Countryside in danger after surge in green belt home plans

BEAUTIFUL countryside is in the sights of developers after a big jump in the number of homes planned for the protected green belt, campaigners have claimed.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) found the number of new houses proposed for England’s green belt has risen to some 274,792 – about 55,000 more than in March last year and almost double Labour’s 2009 figure of 147,000.

The CPRE accused councils of exploiting a loophole that lets them approve building on the green belt in “exceptional circumstances” if it boosts economic growth.

Last year the Conservatives fought the general election on a manifesto commitment to “protect the green belt” – the ribbon of land around towns and cities that prevents urban sprawl.

The green belt around London is under most pressure, with 117,208 homes proposed, a rise of 35 per cent in just 12 months.

More housing on green belt land is planned in Hertfordshire and Surrey, while 2,000 homes are proposed in Redbridge, northeast London, and 450 homes near Sevenoaks, Kent, according to the research.

The study also shows Cambridgeshire has had a 27 per cent increase in proposed new homes in the green belt, to 2,385.

There is a 61 per cent increase in homes planned on the green belt in the North West, with a new total of 19,024, and a 44 per cent increase in the North East, to 11,550 houses, CPRE said.

Of the areas highlighted by the CPRE, only Oxfordshire, which includes David Cameron’s Witney constituency, had a fall in the number of homes planned, down 22 per cent to 3,510.

The report suggested that green belt boundaries were being changed to accommodate more housing at the fastest rate for two decades.

Paul Miner, CPRE’s planning campaign manager, said: “Our green belt is invaluable in preventing urban sprawl and providing the countryside next door for 30 million people. We need stronger protection for the green belt, not just supportive words.

“To build the affordable homes young people and families need, the Government should empower councils to prioritise the use of brownfield sites.”

The organisation is urging the Government to strengthen national planning policy.

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: “Ministers have repeatedly been clear that demand for housing alone will not justify changing green belt boundaries. Councils are already expected to prioritise development on brownfield sites, with 90 per cent of brownfield sites expected to have planning permission by the end of this parliament.

“In 2014-15 just 0.02 per cent of green belt was converted to residential use, and the green belt is actually 32,000 hectares bigger than it was in 1997.”