Panic as Labour ‘plots to strip planning protections for UK churches’ | UK | News
Labour’s building blitz could lead to the land surrounding historic churches in England being redesignated as a “grey belt”, according to reports. The government’s ambitious plan to build 1.5 million homes by 2029, combined with a net zero target, has seen authorities take bold steps to overhaul the country’s planning system. A significant and controversial part of the proposals has been the redesign of “green belt” land-protected rural areas around urban areas created to prevent outward expansion and amalgamation of cities and towns.
This involved identifying “low quality” land within protected areas and allocating these areas for development under the newly designed “grey belt” name. Labor is now considering amending the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to remove guardrails around assigning gray belt status, such as proximity to heritage properties, including UK churches. Telegram.
A consultation paper published in December argued that the criteria, which also cited Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and irreplaceable habitats as reasons for leaving green belt land unchanged, added “unnecessary” layers of protection.
A government spokesman denied that green belt protections would be watered down, while critics said Labor’s “blind” approach could see protections for heritage properties removed next.
Blake Stephenson, Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, said: “The government’s initial gray belt policies put segregated development ahead of infrastructure-led and well-planned communities.
“And it is deeply disappointing that further changes now weaken protections for the things that make us more British.”
“It is absolutely possible to build homes while protecting our heritage and countryside and restoring nature,” he added.
“But instead of doing the hard work needed to achieve this, the government is reaching for definitive solutions.”
The proposed NPPF revision would also make it harder for local authorities to block planning applications by shifting the “presumption” to approval.
Other reforms include default approval for homes near stations, relaxed environmental restrictions for smaller schemes, restrictions on councils imposing overly restrictive local standards and increasing the use of compulsory purchase orders.
A Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: “These claims are completely false. Our proposals create a clearer definition of the gray belt, without weakening the protection of heritage and environmental areas.”
