PRIME Minister David Cameron speaks about balancing environmental and social benefits against economic ones as the row over changes to development policies continues.

Balance is surely the only realistic way forward and both sides should have to accept that.

Today we report that the Oxfordshire CPRE has named 41 villages it believes will be under threat of new development if the controversial planning reforms come in.

It is a staggering number, but we would not expect any legislation to so brutally expose this, or any other county, to such radical change to our diminishing green and pleasant land.

Organisations like the CPRE must accept that the pressures on this country – particularly the South East – mean that new housing is needed, and not all of it can be accommodated within current urban areas and brownfield sites.

But similarly we must all ensure that the landscape is not horrifically scarred beyond recognition.