PPS3 has five themes: quality and design; housing mix; quantity of housing; location; and flexibility of supply. It came into force on 1 April 2006.

• CPRE Oxfordshire Briefing on PPS3

The revision to Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing follows the Baker Review of Housing Supply, published in March 2004, which sought to increase house building. PPS3 also takes account of the findings of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission and has a welcome emphasis on rural housing. It comes into force on 1st April 2007.

Andy Boddington from CPRE Oxfordshire said:

There is a lot of common sense in this policy but some real dangers too. The need to analyse market needs up to 20 years ahead is likely to become a guessing game. Too much rural land might be allocated under pressure from housebuilders and if it is not needed, it could be consumed with lower density developments. The suggestion that 'policy constraints' should be reviewed when need and demand are judged to be high can only increase the pressure to build in Oxford's green belt.

Nationally CPRE welcomed the PPS3 saying it should help ensure that new housing can deliver environmental benefits and better meet housing needs. "But we are concerned that the Government will not be policing low density and greenfield housing development to the extent it has in the past." Policy Director Neil Sinden said: "The impact of these improvements in policy will depend on how they are applied on the ground." National press release.

Further Information

• CPRE Oxfordshire Briefing on PPS3
• DCLG press release
• Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing
• See also CPRE Oxfordshire comments on the draft PPS3 (February 2006)