The Express reports that analysis by the Campaign to Protect Rural England suggests there are currently more than 400,000 homes with planning permission on greenfield sites

Even if planning applications are rejected at local authority level as inappropriate, they are often being granted permission at a national level on appeal, councillors report.

The result have caused massive pressure on services such as doctors, dentists, schools and village lanes clogged with traffic - and the despoiling of some of the most beautiful parts of the British countryside.

Paul Miner, from the countryside charity CPRE, said building should be concentrated on brownfield sites where residential or industrial development has already taken place.

MP Laurence Robertson, who represents many Gloucestershire villages facing extensive new-build development, said: “Rural villages are under assault by this greenfield development. The expansion is so rapid it does not give the community any chance to expand at a sensible pace”.

Full article:

The Express - Rural villages 'under assault' by greenfield property development

CPRE, the countryside charity are members of the Rural Services Network.  You can find out more about them here.