Green Belt Protection and Planning Changes

Andrew Boff AM moved, and Susan Hall AM seconded the following motion: 

“This Assembly notes recent planning reforms in England and London specifically, under which the Mayor has been granted call-in powers for applications of 50 units and above where the local authority is minded to refuse. The Government has also reduced the influence of local authorities in planning, with applications of 9 units and under being delegated to planning officers rather determined by planning committees.

This Assembly also notes that in the Draft London Plan 2026, up to 56,100 units have been earmarked for development on green belt land in London.

This Assembly agrees that local authorities are best placed to decide which planning applications should be determined by local planning committees, rather than be delegated to planning officers or be called-in by the Mayor of London.

The Assembly calls on the Mayor to:

1. Remove proposals to earmark 56,100 units on green belt land in the London Plan.
2. Write to the Government to ask that they remove the Mayor of London’s call-in powers for applications of 50 units and above where the local authority is minded to refuse.
3. Write to the Government to demand that powers are returned to local authority planning committees to determine applications of 9 units and under.”

Following debate and upon being put to a vote, the motion was agreed with 8 votes being cast in favour, and 7 votes cast against.