New PM Gordon Brown has pledged three million homes to be built by 2020, mainly on previously developed brownfield sites.

His Government has stressed its “robust protection” of the Green Belt.

But … we learn that only 60 per cent of the new homes will actually be on “previously developed brownfield sites” – so, where will the other 40 per cent be?

A recent study by the Social Market Foundation claims that two million of the new homes would have to be built on undeveloped countryside, Green Belt or Parks and open spaces.

ISPAL perceives an important debate here - on old “green and brown” ground.

Why did our predecessors establish the Green Belt and Parks space? The Green Belt aims were to define the boundaries between town and country, to prevent them merging ever closer together, to stop “urban sprawl” and to protect the countryside.

The parks aims are still summed up by the memorable Victorian concern to protect the nation’s “lungs”. Are these aims still valid, in today’s society?

No one would dispute that affordable housing is vital. It’s the full cost we must examine. We won’t mention floodplains! - but, we must anticipate some government effort to find parks and gardens that might be paved over.

ISPAL will be vigilant and proactive in examining the implementation of the new home building programme. We need to value our parks and gardens. We need to treasure our green space. They are the very heart (and lungs!) of our communities.

We ask members to give us any information about threats to their areas and communities - and of course, to send in your views to [email protected]