'Stop that urban sprawl': Lichfield councillor raises concern over greenbelt as housing targets increase dramatically
A senior councillor has raised concerns over the potential impact on vital greenbelt land following recent changes to national planning policy. As part of the government’s push to build 1.5 million new homes a number of changes to planning policy have been made.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
In recent months there have been several changes to national planning policy including the reintroduction of mandatory housing targets and the introduction of the concept of greybelt. In the case of Lichfield housing targets increased to 745 new houses every year compared to 289 previously.
The greenbelt currently encompasses 46 per cent of Lichfield District and helps prevent the coalescence between neighbouring areas. However the introduction of greybelt could mean more of the greenbelt is built on.
Grey belt is land that is currently within the greenbelt that has either been previously developed or does not make a significant contribution to the purposes of the greenbelt.
Currently Lichfield District Council have finished the first formal stage of the local plan process. The plan will guide development in the district through to 2043 and is expected to lead to the creation of hundreds of new homes.
As part of that process the issues and options consultation saw feedback from more than 2,500 respondents and saw the word green belt mentioned 245 times. As part of the local plan process a new green belt study has been commissioned which is set to be completed in June.
The changes also mean that if a planning authority is unable to meet their housing target in land not currently in the green belt then a green belt study will need to be undertaken to find suitable areas to build houses in the green belt or grey belt land.
However, Councillor Richard Cox has raised concerns that grey belt could erode the green belt and urged the council to reject the idea. He also criticised the reintroduction of mandatory housing targets, calling them unrealistic for the district.
He said: “I’m still very concerned in a sense about these arbitrary figures that we’re getting for more than we can possibly deal with unless there is a blanket release of greenbelt. I’m concerned about the greenbelt because the greenbelt that we have is very important to stop that urban sprawl.
“I think it’s very important that that is clearly recognised and I take dislike to the terminology that;s now been coming through after many years of now hearing the word greybelt. Well what’s grey.
“As far as I’m concerned it’s a chink in the armour against the greenbelt and if we’re not careful by acknowledging it and moving forward, accepting greybelt we will erode our own greenbelt that we have.”
