Taylor report agrees with the CLA

The CLA today backed a report into rural development by Matthew Taylor MP.

The rural economy experts support the findings in the report to simplify and remove conflicting Government policies in order to provide for sustainable rural businesses, community-led affordable rural housing and improved master planning for our historic market towns.

CLA President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher said: "Matthew Taylor agrees with the CLA that, within the planning system, a balanced approach must be taken to the three pillars of sustainable development. We sincerely hope that the Government will take on board and deliver the report's recommendations as soon as possible. The CLA does not want to see this report go the same way as the important Affordable Rural Housing Commission report[1] which appears to be sitting on shelves gathering dust.

"Rural employment continues to be stifled by the planning system, and the delivery of affordable rural housing is just not happening on the ground. We are looking to the Government to turn the Matthew Taylor report around very quickly and provide the encouragement and incentives that businessmen and businesswomen in rural areas require to run profitable and modern businesses in which the creation of new jobs is given a high priority.

"The Government must also provide incentives and policy direction at local level that promotes the delivery of new houses in all our rural settlements, including those in designated areas."

The CLA President added: "There is a close interaction between economy, community and environment in rural areas which serves as a lesson for sustainable development elsewhere but it has been stifled by urban-biased planning policies which have not been rural-proofed and have led to adverse consequences in rural areas. Let's hope that this report puts 'sustainable development' back into the countryside as soon as possible."