Balancing building on green belt and improving nature
In May 2025, the Mayor announced that “City Hall’s new position will be to actively explore the release of parts of London’s Green Belt for development.”1 – but what impact will this have on London’s environment?
This proposal includes ensuring “any release of the green belt to help address the housing crisis makes the best use of land and meets strict requirements. This includes… increasing biodiversity and access to good-quality green spaces as part any developments.”2
The London Assembly Environment Committee will meet tomorrow to speak to environmental experts and the Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service about the environmental impact of releasing parts of the green belt for development as well as to hear how policies to embed nature in development will be reviewed, strengthened and enforced.
The guests are:
Panel one:
- Elliot Newton, Director of Rewilding, Citizen Zoo
- Julia Baker, Head of Nature Services, Mott MacDonald
- Richard Barnes, Head of Planning & External Affairs, London Wildlife Trust
- Alice Roberts, Head of Campaigns, CPRE London
- Geoff Sinclair, Assistant Director / Superintendent, The Commons, City of London Corporation
- Simone Turner, Interim Ecology & Adaption Lead, Hammersmith & Fulham Council; Member of London Boroughs Biodiversity Forum (LBBF)
Panel two:
- Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration & the Fire Service, Greater London Authority (GLA)
- Lucinda Turner, Assistant Director of Planning and Regeneration, GLA
- Abby Crisostomo, Head of Green Infrastructure, GLA
- Graham Horton, Acting Deputy Director, Thames Solent Area Team, Natural England
The meeting will take place on Thursday 12 June 2025 from 2pm in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
Follow us @LondonAssembly.
Notes to editors
- GLA Mayor: We must build on the green belt to help fix London’s housing crisis 9 May 2025
- Mayor of London, Towards a new London Plan, p5
- Leonie Cooper AM, Chair of the Environment Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Environment Committee.
- Read the agenda in full.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Tony Smyth in the Assembly Media Office on 07763 251727 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.