English planning needs to re-establish importance of land use

The recent publication of a National Planning Policy Framework for consultation has brought charges from conservation and environmental groups that this will encourage “urban sprawl”. At the same time, what might be described as “the urban sprawl option” for Worcester’s expansion, as part of the wider South Worcestershire Development Plan, is also up for consultation. The fields shown here on left, beyond the city’s southern by-pass road, are identified for a further urban extension, notwithstanding that earlier plans identified this area as strategically important agricultural land.

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