Green Belt Archives

618 Dwelling Scheme Blocked

by Paul Addison on August 29, 2019 No comments

Proposals for a development consisting of up to 618 new homes, (40% affordable), has been voted against by members of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning committee.

Although this differed from the advice of officials, the vote was unanimous,

It is anticipated that once the committee has gathered to validate the refusal, and their reasons for doing so, developers PMG Ltd and Persimmon Homes will appeal the decision.

The controversial greenfield site, situated on the edge of the town, south-west of Lansbury Park and Mornington Meadows, has sparked thousands of objections.

Yorkshire Dales Homes Approved

by Paul Addison on May 29, 2018 No comments

In West Witton, Richmondshire, 17 homes have been granted full planning permission by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s planning committee.

Since 2014, this is the largest development to gain permission in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The dwellings will be next to the Old School Close at the west side of the village.

The Importance of a 5 Year Housing Supply

by Paul Addison on January 11, 2018 No comments

A surprisingly high amount of councils does not have a 5-year housing supply in the South East and East.

If a local authority cannot provide a 5-year housing supply, the presumption is in favour of any development applications, regardless if the land is green belt, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or even a National Park.

Put simply the benefit outweighs the harm caused by an under supply.

Development putting pressure on celebrated landscapes

by Paul Addison on November 29, 2017 No comments

While there are government assurances to uphold their protected status, over the last five years, an increase if 82% has been seen in the number of homes built in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) have said that since 2012 in the 34 English AONBs, the number of planning applications has more than doubled, and 15,500 dwellings have been built.

There were warnings that evidence suggests developers are using increasing pressure on local authorities to build new homes on AONBs by;

Phillip Hammond wishes to build on green belt land

by Paul Addison on November 3, 2017 No comments

Despite Prime Minister Theresa May opposing the idea, Chancellor Philip Hammond wishes to use this year’s Budget to make green belt land available for housing.

The lack of housing in high-demand areas is reflected as a vital issue.

The Budget will contain measures that resume Hammond’s wish to tackle Britain’s poor productivity, per The Times (subscription).

£54 million made available by Government to free up land for housing

by Paul Addison on August 9, 2017 No comments

A £54 million package has been launched by the government in the hope of renovating local communities, and releasing land for thousands of new homes.

This comes under part of a new cross-government partnership to ensure government-owned property in England is utilized more effectively.

£45 million of the 54 has come from the Department for Communities and Local Government’s (DCLG) Land Release Fund.

The DCLG has been launched in corporation with the Cabinet Office and the Local Government Association’s (LGA) One Public Estate Program.

Homes Approved for Green Belt Sees Huge Rise

by Paul Addison on July 26, 2017 No comments

Since March 2016, a rise of 54% has been seen on homes due to be built on the green belt, with a total of 425,000.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) have exposed in a study of local authority that, over 70% of the homes are unaffordable to the people who need them.

Over the past 20 years, the 54% rise in the largest year-on-year upsurge in buildings proposed in the green belt.

The ‘Green Belt of the Future’ seminar

by Paul Addison on March 10, 2017 No comments

According to the chair of the Natural Capital Committee, green belt should be preserved and treated as a crucial feature of the country’s natural capital ‘asset register’.

The ‘Green Belt of the Future’ seminar was hosted at the GLA building in London, where Professor Dieter Helm was speaking.

Helm spoke of noting;

“Decades of an almost entirely fruitless debate between people who think that the economy is on one side of the debate and the environment on the other”.

Housing must be incorporated in the Northern Powerhouse, says AECOM

by Paul Addison on March 2, 2017 No comments

According to AECOM, unless steps are taken to incorporate and fast-track residential development in plans for a Northern Powerhouse, cities and regions in the north of England will be facing a housing crisis.

On top of infrastructure, the planning and infrastructure consultancy have said housing

“must also become a vital element of Northern Powerhouse delivery if the north of England is to successfully achieve economic growth and rebalance the economy”.

Government strengthening neighborhood plans

by Paul Addison on January 6, 2017 No comments

For neighbourhood plans to no longer be considered out-of-date in areas where the local authority does not have a five-year housing land supply, protection for them has been increased.

Having said that, if there is a significant lack of land supply in the wider local authority area this can be re-considered.

Written in a ministerial statement, the move was explained, as well as being covered by Planning Minister Gavin Barwell during the report stage and third reading of the Neighbourhood Planning Bill in the Commons.