Proposed Government Changes to the Green Belt

Alessandro Georgiou AM moved, and Andrew Boff AM seconded the following motion:

“The Assembly notes with concern the government’s proposals to weaken green belt protections in its draft National Planning Policy Framework. The Assembly notes the importance of London’s green belt for the environment, biodiversity and quality of life, and as a barrier to urban sprawl.

The Assembly notes and supports the strong protections in the London Plan for the green belt and Metropolitan Open Land and policies to resist de-designation, and would not wish to see these protections weakened, either in the London Plan or in borough local plans. The priority for new housing development should be brownfield land.

The Assembly is particularly concerned about the proposed new ‘grey belt’ designation, and its potential to incentivise landowners to make their green belt land derelict in order to qualify for grey belt status, thus presenting a threat to the wider green belt.

The Assembly therefore calls for the government to review and provide clarity on how the proposed ‘grey belt’ designation will be defined, maintain the strong and longstanding protections for London’s Green Belt, and for the Mayor to make strong representations to the government to this effect.”

Following debate and upon being put to the vote, the motion was agreed unanimously.