COUNTRYSIDE campaigners believe a Government draft housing plan will put residents' quality of life at serious risk.
The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) believes the South East of England Regional Assembly wants to concentrate housing growth on financially strong areas including the Thames Gateway.
It is worried too much development will bring traffic chaos to the roads, overcrowding in schools and longer waiting lists in hospitals.
A CPRE spokesman said: "Even modest development could have similar consequences unless there is enough funding to pay for the infrastructure and public services needed, seriously risking residents' quality of life."
The group fear the plans, launched on January 24 as News Shopper went to press, also include meeting the south east's housing needs by building almost 250,000 new homes in the countryside by 2024.
The spokesman added: "Too much development will seriously damage the countryside.
"It will also lead to urban sprawl as pressure from London extends outwards in all directions."
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