Majority of ‘grey belt’ homes to be built on unspoilt countryside | Politics | News
Many of the homes built in Labour’s gray belt will be built in pristine countryside, a charity has warned.
The government’s gray belt definition includes former petrol stations and car parks, as well as land bordering existing settlements or roads.
But rural charity CPRE warned the designation poses an “existential threat” to greenbelt protections.
CPRE CEO Roger Mortlock said: “In practice the government’s ‘grey belt’ policy is not about building on petrol stations but posing an existential threat to the protection of green belts.
“Our latest research shows the policy is vague, subjective and misleading to the public. The lack of clarity has been good news for big house builders, but bad news for anyone who loves the countryside.
“We know from CPRE branches across the country that the situation is getting worse because local authorities are so desperate to meet revised housing targets that they are forced to approve speculative development in the green belt.”
CPRE said that since the policy was introduced in December 2024, 13 developments of ten or more homes have been approved by government planning inspectors on gray belt land in the Green Belt.
Approval was given through local council presidents.
Of the 1,250 homes these plans will deliver, 88% will be built in previously undeveloped rural areas.
These developments account for more than 90% of homes granted planning permission by inspectors in gray belt areas. The remaining part consists of 21 smaller plans, not exceeding 91 houses in total.
Approval has been given for 57 homes in Tonbridge, Kent, on some of the country’s finest farmland.
Meanwhile in Castle Point, Essex, planning permission has been granted for 47 homes in a designated local wildlife area.
Both examples consist of green belt land, now considered gray belt, CPRE said.
CPRE policy leader Emma Marrington said: “The Green Belt is the countryside on the doorstep of nearly 30 million people in this country. As well as having some of the country’s best quality farmland and most important wildlife habitat, these places around our largest towns and cities play a vital role in meeting the government’s target of 30% of protected areas for nature by 2030.”
“We must defend England’s green belt. Once it’s lost, it’s lost for good.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described gray belt land in April 2024 as “shelved, low-quality bushland on the outskirts of the city”, alongside previously developed land such as disused petrol stations and car parks.
He promised: “We will prioritize ugly, disused greybelt land and impose tough new conditions to release it.”
The Government has been contacted for comment.
