Our green belts are historic
RELAXING planning regulations around Green Belts so that cheap starter homes can be provided for young people is a lie, ‘Save our Green Belt’ campaigners say.
Fears are that builders will only put posh expensive homes on leafy fringes in preference to redeveloping brownfield sites.
Contract rigging in the construction industry is costing the taxpayer billions every year according to studies, as government watchdogs and police turn a blind eye, critics say.
Under plans for the GM Spatial Framework, green belt land throughout Stockport and other areas will be available for massive developments, though protected since the 1950s, and there seems little anyone can do about it.
There are only 14 green belts throughout Britain, mainly around big conurbations like Manchester, Leeds, London, Birmingham and Liverpool.
The idea goes back a long way. The ancient Greeks created green open spaces around their cities for all their citizens to enjoy.
Muhammad decreed that trees should not be cut for a twelve mile radius around the holy city of Medina.
Queen Elizabeth I proclaimed a no-build zone around London in the 16th century, to control the plague.
There are now 25 million dwellings in England alone and 2.5 per cent are vacant, half of these over the long term. Incredibly, local councils are the smallest providers of rented housing, most being in the private sector.
Perhaps examining ownership issues over existing empty stock, redeveloping empty properties and a council housebuilding programme may help the worst off, who couldn’t afford to buy homes in a nice green belt suburb.
Land in Heald Green, Cheadle, Woodford and High Lane is currently earmarked for massive housing schemes covering hundreds of acres and has roused protest from residents under the ‘Save our Green Belt’ banner who have campaigned outside Manchester Town Hall.
They fear it will be left to private developers to decide what sort of housing to build on these sites and cheap ‘starter homes’ - the justification for doing this may form a small proportion, if any are built at all.
If you need copies of Stockport Heritage Magazine you can still get them from me online via the mag website www.stockportheritagemagazine.co.uk or by visiting St Mary’s Heritage Centre, Market Place.
Many back copies can be purchased along with books and binders.