Ministers have underlined the Government’s commitment to protect the green belt from development by publishing new and revised guidance.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis have insisted that thousands of brown field sites are available for development, and should be prioritised.
New advice, just published, reaffirms how councils should use their local plan to draw on protection in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), to safeguard their local area against urban sprawl, and protect the green lungs around towns and cities.
The guidance states that, once established, green belt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional cases, and through the preparation or review of the local plan.
It also makes it clear that housing need – including for traveller sites – does not justify the harm done to the green belt by inappropriate development.
Pickles said: ‘This government has been very clear that when planning for new buildings, protecting our precious green belt must be paramount.
‘People don’t want to lose their countryside to urban sprawl, or see the vital green lungs around their towns and cities to unnecessary development.
‘This guidance will ensure councils can meet their housing needs by prioritising brown field sites, and fortify the green belt in their area.’
Lewis added: ‘Councils should consider how they will protect and preserve important sites in their area, especially green belt sites.’
