Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Hertfordshire Green Belt: National Planning Policy

23 November 2021 · 0 other contributors · 3,419 words

Opened by Daisy Cooper Lib Dem St Albans

Responding minister: Christopher Pincher

HousingEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Daisy Cooper raised concerns about hertfordshire green belt: national planning policy in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • MP expresses concern over national planning policy framework undermining protection of Hertfordshire's green belt.
  • MP cites examples of approved developments, including a 100-house project at Roundhouse Farm and a 6,000-house plan at Bowmans Cross, despite local refusals.
  • MP requests government guidance for planning inspectors to prioritize green belt protection over central housing targets.

Key requests to Government

The MP asks the Government to urgently issue guidance to planning inspectors on determining appeals and protecting the green belt. She requests principles for protecting the green belt that should be given more weight than arbitrary numbers reached through the standard method of calculation, ensuring they are not overshadowed by central housing targets.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Daisy Cooper Lib Dem St Albans

The MP is concerned about the Government's national planning policy framework, which she believes undermines the protection of Hertfordshire's green belt. She highlights that more than half of Hertfordshire is designated as being within the London metropolitan green belt and cites examples such as Roundhouse Farm near Colney Heath, where a development of 100 houses was approved despite local authorities refusing permission to protect the green belt. The MP also mentions plans for Bowmans Cross by Hertsmere Borough Council that would see 6,000 houses built in a swathe of green-belt land.

Government Response

Christopher Pincher

The Minister of State, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Mr Christopher Pincher MP, acknowledged the importance of the green belt and expressed the government's commitment to protecting it. He highlighted that the current planning system has been in place since 1948 and noted that the Prime Minister reaffirmed this commitment during his Conservative Party conference speech last month. The green belt covers 12.4% of England's land mass, with St Albans having over 81% of its area within it. Pincher emphasised strict protections for the green belt under national planning policies and mentioned that proposals to release land from the green belt require consultation with local people and rigorous examination by a qualified planning inspector. He also noted that any loss of green-belt land must be offset with environmental and access standards on remaining land. The Minister reiterated the importance of using brownfield land for development alongside protecting the green belt. Additionally, he referred to the Environment Act 2021's biodiversity net gain requirement as a condition of most new developments. Pincher highlighted the standard method for assessing local housing need introduced in 2018 and stated that 9% of authorities have plans made to the 2004 standard, including St Albans which has not had an up-to-date plan since 1994. He committed to supporting brownfield regeneration with £5 billion available to Homes England for builders and further initiatives announced recently. The Minister concluded by reaffirming the government's commitment to protecting green spaces.

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