Forget Sixties, says Charles

THE PRINCE of Wales has called on the Government to change the "Sixties mindset" of planners and give the countryside greater protection from development.

Prince Charles's views emerged yesterday in a highly critical report on Labour's planning policies by the Commons Select Committee on the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs. The committee found widespread support for more new homes to be built on disused land or "brownfield sites" in towns and cities. It called for an end to housing in "transport corridors" and said no new developments should be used as dormitories for cities.

In evidence to the committee, Prince Charles said he wanted planners to "rediscover age-old principles of urban design in rebuilding our cities", and that "the Sixties mindset of professionals, such as planners and highway engineers, was a major obstacle to development".