Farming Today This Week

Anna Hill visits the Lickey Hills near Birmingham to see how new planning proposals could affect the English countryside.

The government has put out the National Planning Policy Framework for England for consultation until 17th October.
But campaigners say these proposals could put the countryside under threat and allow a 'free-for-all' for developers.

Professor Alister Scott from Birmingham City University discusses the pressure upon urban areas like the West Midlands to build 365,000 new homes. But with Birmingham surrounded by green belt areas, there is debate where these homes will be built.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England says biodiversity and rural environments could be at threat for the sake of the economy, whilst the Country Land and Business Association believe some conservation groups are overreacting to the new framework.

And planning minister Greg Clark responds to concern over the planning proposals. Farming Today asks him what is 'sustainable development'.

Presented by Anna Hill. Produced by Clare Freeman.