The petition of residents of the constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme,
Declares that the land to the south east of Junction 16 of the M6 should not be released from its green belt status for development as this would have a significantly detrimental impact on Audley residents; further declares that the proposed employment site represents a loss of 6% of the parish’s green belt, which would devastate the rural character of the conservation area; further declares that the proposed development would likely favour commuters over local residents, increasing pressure on the A500/M6 roundabout and disrupting nearby rural lanes used by local people; further declares that the development is expected to cause poor air quality, noise, litter, 24-hour illumination and loss of habitat, while severely impacting views across the Cheshire plains and North Staffordshire; and further declares that, as the local planning authority tasked with producing the Local Plan, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has a responsibility to listen to the overwhelming concerns of its residents and ensure the long-term protection of the green belt by removing site allocation AB2.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to remove site allocation AB2 from its Local Plan and not to permit the release of green belt land for this development.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Adam Jogee, Official Report, 24 June 2026; Vol. 788, c. 465.]
[P003213]
Observations from the Minister for Housing and Planning (Matthew Pennycook):
Due to their quasi-judicial role in the planning system, MHCLG Ministers are unable to comment on the details of specific planning applications or proposals.
The Government have a brownfield first approach to development. On 17 August 2026, the Government published a new national planning policy framework, which makes clear that authorities should plan to meet as much of their development needs as possible on brownfield land.
The Government are committed to preserving green belts that have served England’s towns and cities well over many decades, not least in terms of checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas and preventing neighbouring towns from merging into one another.
However, we know that there are simply not enough sites on brownfield land registers to deliver the volume of homes that the country needs each year, let alone enough that are viable and in the right location. That is why we acted to replace the haphazard approach taken to green-belt designation and release by the previous Government with a strategic and targeted approach.
National policy maintains strong protections for the green belt, preserves the long-standing green belt purposes and does not weaken existing protections for the natural environment.
Where it is necessary to release green-belt land for development, local development plans should give priority to previously developed land and other lower quality grey-belt land. Under our revised approach, the sustainability of green-belt sites must also be prioritised, and local planning authorities must pay particular attention to transport connections when considering if grey belt is sustainably located. The definition of grey belt, for the purposes of plan making and decision making, is provided in the glossary of the NPPF.
These include providing strong support for development within settlements, supporting the intensification of urban and suburban locations, and setting clear expectations for minimum densities in locations with good transport connectivity. Brownfield sites vary greatly, and local authorities are ultimately best placed to assess the suitability of each for redevelopment.
Where green-belt land has to be released for major housing development, the Government golden rules apply to ensure that development delivers higher levels of affordable housing; the provision of new or improvements to existing green spaces that are accessible to the public; and the making of necessary improvements to local or national infrastructure.
The NPPF is clear that in exceptional circumstances, where a local authority is unable to meet its identified needs for essential development, it can propose to alter a green belt boundary using the development plan process. This requires consultation with local people, followed by rigorous examination of the revised plan by the Planning Inspectorate.
At examination, the local authority will be expected to show that it has explored all reasonable options for meeting its identified development needs, and that it has been making as much use as possible of brownfield and underused land, optimising density in existing settlements, and considering whether another local authority could help meet its development needs. The Planning Inspectorate has examined the local plan and found it sound. It is now for the local authority to adopt the plan. Once adopted, the local plan will support decision making in the local area.
Each local authority determines planning applications in the light of the local plan and all other material considerations, including policies in the framework. It is for the decision-maker to consider which facts or circumstances are relevant, and how much weight to give them. Where inappropriate development is proposed in green belt, it is up to the decision-maker to judge whether very special circumstances outweigh the potential harm to the green belt.