The Government has signalled plans to review the regime surrounding town green designations following controversy over the way campaigners have used the existing legislation to thwart development.
The administration’s intentions were set out in a written Parliamentary answer from environment minister Huw Irranca-Davies. The minister was responding to a question from Tom Levitt MP, who asked when the Government planned to propose guidelines on town and village greens “to prevent their application to land which already has planning permission for development”.
Irranca-Davies explained his department had recently received the final report of research into the registration of new town or village greens which had now been published and was available on the departmental website. The minister said: “The findings of the research, as well as feedback from local authorities and others, lead me to conclude that there is sufficient evidence to justify a review of the existing system, with a view to exploring possible changes. Therefore, DEFRA plans to consult in spring 2010 on whether there is a need for reform of the registration system, and the options for reform that exist.”
Campaign for Real Village Greens co-ordinator Steve McAllister welcomed the move. He said: “The shameful modern abuse of the old village green laws, which has only been possible since a bizarre judgment in the House of Lords in 1999, needs to be brought to an end urgently.”
