Chairman's Question to Guests (Supplementary) [9]

Sir Edward Lister (Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning):  Yes.  We have within the Plan picked up the issue of public realm, picked up the need for open space and picked up the need for greening all the boroughs.  That is picked up here.  We have tried to ensure that any scheme that comes forward does recognise the public realm and does it in a positive way.

Dr Onkar Sahota AM:  Do you accept that you have weakened the policies on building on green land?

Sir Edward Lister (Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning):  We have within this Plan quite a lot of protection of greenbelt, if that is the question.

Dr Onkar Sahota AM:  Yes.

Sir Edward Lister (Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning):  That protection is there.  The Plan does not assume we are going to be building on greenbelt land.  The only time we would recognise that is if the boroughs came forward with their own individual plans to release some greenbelt and then that would have to be debated at that time.  However, the Plan makes no assumption that we are going to be doing any building on greenbelt.

Dr Onkar Sahota AM:  I refer to Policy 2.18 on green infrastructure, which says that the multifunctional network of green spaces has been weakened to note the green infrastructure deficiencies must now be addressed and not met.  An example of this was seen in my own constituency where Lake Farm Academy School is being allowed to build on Botwell Common, which is part of Lake Farm Park and has been greenbelt land since perpetuity.  The local council never proved there were special circumstances or that there were no other lands available.  Despite that, the school is being built on greenbelt land.

I wonder if you accept that you have weakened the position.  If you have not weakened the position, why have you changed the wording of your policy?

Sir Edward Lister (Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning):  The only schemes that we are seeing on a regular basis for building mainly on Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) have been schools.  There is quite a regular flow of proposals coming through from outer London boroughs to extend existing schools on greenfield sites.  That is constantly coming through.  It is coming through from all boroughs ‑‑

Dr Onkar Sahota AM:  This was a brand new school being built.

Sir Edward Lister (Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning):  Yes, there are a number of new schools as well, but most of them are extensions.  The bulk of the ones we see are extensions of existing schools.  There are some new ones coming through.  The argument being made by the local borough in every case is, “The pressure on education is such that this is the ideal location for a school and this is where the people live”.  However, we do our best when we consider each one to ensure that we take the minimum amount of green space available.  We try to ensure that they put playing fields back.  All of that does go into it and that is laid out in the Plan.

Dr Onkar Sahota AM:  Thank you, Sir Edward.