Our Green Belt land must be preserved, May tells developers

THERESA MAY is today prepared to rule out building on Green Belt land to fix the “broken” housing market.

The Prime Minister will meet Britain’s biggest developers in Downing Street and “lay down a challenge” to the industry to build more homes.

Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, is said to be considering plans to build on more Green Belt land to help more young people get on the housing ladder.

However, Mrs May, who has defended the Green Belt throughout her premiership, has insisted that the green spaces must be preserved.

Developers and building firms are expected to attend the summit today, together with representatives from local authorities and housing associations. Last month Mrs May announced a £10million boost to the Help to Buy scheme and more protection for those living in private rented accommodation.

The meeting comes after Mrs May used her conference speech to identify housing as the central domestic issue on which she will focus in the coming months. Senior figures fear a continuing housing crisis will affect the Conservatives’ prospects in future elections.

In her speech Mrs May said that in the last four decades “we simply haven’t built enough homes”.

She highlighted Government proposals to give councils new powers to ensure developers build homes once they obtain planning permission – an issue likely to be raised at today’s summit.