LABOUR’S ‘GREY BELT’: Protecting Natural Spaces and Turning Green Belt Carparks and ‘Wastelands’ to Housing.

As has been in the headlines for many months gone-by, Britain is in a housing emergency.

 

Labour have set out that the Conservatives, after 14 years in power, have saddled the Country with a chronic shortage of homes, with this housing emergency only getting worse as a result of the Tories. Labour have said that this has inevitably led to the dream of home ownership being pushed further from reach, with millions being unable to plan their lives, start families, or build a future for themselves and their children.

 

Labour is clear that the current Planning System is not working, with the Tories allowing developers a ‘free-for-all’ on the best quality land, which has lead to “haphazard” and “unplanned” development that often leads to local opposition.

 

The Party have stated that Keir Starmer’s Labour will do things differently, setting out a plan to get Britain ‘building again’ by introducing a better system that will build homes that local people can afford in addition to delivering new infrastructure and improving green spaces.

 

How do Labour envisage doing things differently? Well, that’s by developing the ‘Grey Belt’.

 

What Makes the Green Belt ‘Grey’?

Labour refers to ‘Grey Belt’ as those areas that are neglected such as disused car parks and “poor quality wastelands” that are located within the Green Belt. The Party believes that these areas could be built on whilst genuine nature spots can be improved and protected.

 

To demonstrate that they are not alone in recognising this distinction, Labour have drawn on the Chair of Natural England (i.e., Tony Juniper) comments that building new homes on the Green Belt does not have to detrimental to green spaces and wildlife, if the quality of urban green spaces is improved.

 

Will Labour Develop the Green Belt?

The Party claim that they will not build on ‘genuine nature spots’ in addition to setting tough conditions for the release of Green Belt land for house building to ensure that building more homes and protecting nature go hand-in-hand.

 

Labour have said that they are committed to prioritising the development of brownfield land first. However, they have added that they are not able to build the homes Britain needs without the release of ‘some’ Green Belt, such as poor-quality land, car parks and ‘wastelands’ currently classed as Green Belt. Additionally, the Party have said they will improve existing green spaces by making them accessible to the public and through introducing new playing fields, parks, and woodland.

 

How Many Homes?

Labour is targeting a lofty 1.5 million new homes to be built within the first five years of a Labour government (on average of 300,000 per year).

 

Should they be successful in achieving this, Labour have touted that this would be the biggest boost to affordable housing in a generation, creating new towns, and ensuring ‘first dibs’ for first-time buyers.

 

The Five ‘Golden Rules’

If delivering 1.5 million new homes within the first five years of a Labour government was not ambitious enough, the Party are also seeking to ensure new affordable homes protect natural green space whilst also not placing undue pressure on infrastructure and public services.

 

You may be thinking ‘How so?…. but Labour have proposed Five ‘Golden Rules’ that these 1.5 million new homes will be subject to ensure delivery of this aim:

 

1: ‘Brownfield First’: Brownfield land within the Green Belt must be prioritised for development;

2. ‘Grey Belt Second’: “Poor-quality and ugly areas” of the Green Belt should be clearly prioritised over nature-rich, environmentally valuable Green Belt land;

Excluding the existing brownfield category, Labour has highlighted that the system does not differentiate between the above areas, and so they propose that this category will be distinct to brownfield and have a wider definition.

3. ‘Affordable Homes’: When land is released, Plans must target at least 50% affordable housing delivery;
4. ‘Boost Public Services and Infrastructure’: Plans must boost public services and local infrastructure, including more places in nurseries and schools, new health centres, and more GP appointments;
5. ‘Improve Genuine Green Spaces’: Ruling out building on genuine nature spots and a requirement for Plans to meet high environmental standards and to include improvements to existing green spaces such as public accessibility, new woodland, parks, and playing fields.

 

Moving Forwards

Should Labour go on to win a majority in any upcoming General Election, and these proposals are not watered down, it is envisaged that the ‘flood gates’ of Green Belt housing applications could soon be opened.

 

 

If you have a site/s that you think meets Labour’s criteria for ‘Grey Belt’, get in touch today.