Right of refusal of development on green belt land
The petition of residents of South Shields,
Declares that the development of 156 residential properties on GA2 land is inappropriate and unwanted by the community; further that the development lies west of Sunniside Farm in South Shields, a site within the green belt which has had a food producing arable field for over thirty five consecutive years; further that, if allowed, the development would disrupt the heavily used 7th century Bede’s Way footpath which links the two ancient monasteries of St Paul’s and St Peter’s which are dedicated to The Venerable Bede; and further that all communities should have a clause or exception of a right of refusal of development on green belt land which is used to produce arable food or where local communities do not want development that would destroy the openness and permanence of the land.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to change the National Planning Policy Framework to include a clause of a right of refusal of development on green belt land, thus giving local people the right to say what is to happen in their community.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck , Official Report, Wednesday 7 September 2022; Vol. 719, c. 348.]
[P002766]
Observation from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Lee Rowley):
This Government recognise the importance of green belt and are committed to its protection and enhancement. The latest figures show that around 1,638,150 hectares—or 12.6 per cent of England’s land area—remains green belt. Indeed, the green belt is actually larger now than in 1997 when our records began—if we disregard land reclassified as national park, and it increased by more than 24,000 hectares last year.
Over the last decade, the Government have placed significant weight on the retention of green belt. The revised National Planning Policy Framework has retained strong green belt protections. The framework states, for instance, that a green belt boundary may be altered only in exceptional circumstances through the local plan process. A local authority should consider releasing land from green belt only if it can demonstrate that it has explored all other reasonable options—including using brownfield land as much as possible or optimising the density of development.
The framework also makes clear that planning applications for inappropriate development—including most forms of new building—should not be approved in green belt unless in very special circumstances, as judged by the local authority.
While retaining strong provisions in the framework for the protection of green belt, the Government also recognise that there may be times when a local area deems it appropriate to review a green belt boundary. Consequently, we believe decisions about such changes should be taken locally where possible. Local authorities are legally required to consult local people at the outset, both on local plan proposals, including any green belt release, and on individual planning applications. Local authorities are best placed to plan their areas taking into account all the material facts and circumstances, which are often very locally specific.
Given the strong existing protections, the existing consultation requirements, and the ability of local communities to ultimately remove their local elected representatives at a democratic election, we are not proposing to change this part of the process at this time.