The review of the Regional Spatial Strategy is grappling with some big issues for the future of Staffordshire. The Regional Assembly convinced ministers two years ago to sign up to a most welcome strategy of urban regeneration, taking development pressure away from Staffordshire and the other shire counties. But that decision is already under threat, ironically from the Government itself. Its new-found 'housing at all costs' approach threatens a 50% increase in house building rates over 25 years, with bigger increases in some areas. Burton, which is proposed as a 'sub-regional focus' for development, could be particularly hard hit, but there would be big increases in several other districts.

Because the supply of previously developed land is limited, the great majority of the extra houses would be built on green field sites outside urban areas, threatening precious countryside. Parts of the green belt itself would probably be lost and the character of small towns and villages could be undermined. It would become more difficult to regenerate major urban areas like Birmingham and the Black Country, to make more efficient use of land and to reduce over-dependence on the private car. The exodus from the Metropolitan Area into Staffordshire - already running at 2,500-3,000 people (net) every year - would almost certainly increase. Staffordshire County Council have drawn attention to some of these consequences but it is not yet certain to what extent they will go along with the higher figures.

However all is not lost. CPRE's West Midlands Regional Group, supported by Staffordshire campaigners , is fighting hard to counter the proposals. There will be a crucial consultation period early in the New Year and we will be pulling out all the stops to bring home to local authorities, the Regional Assembly and the Government itself the folly of these proposals. We will argue on many different fronts - technical assumptions (for example about population growth, average household size and demolition rates); the capacity of different areas to absorb new housing; and above all the global and local environmental consequences of growth.

This is not just a technical exercise. You can help by telling us what a 50% increase in house building over a long period would mean for your area. If you would like to help in that way, please write to me at 12 Squires Road, Stretton-on-Dunsmore, near Rugby CV23 9HF (Plangley@)stretton12.freeserve.co.uk) by the end of January 2007.

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