Author Archives:

We need your help to save London’s Green Belt

London Green Belt Council Posted on by

In the recent Queen’s speech, the government’s pre-election commitment to protect the Green Belt was reiterated but with little further detail. However, in partnership with eight CPRE branches in and surrounding London, the London Green Belt Council (LGBC) has just published a map of the extensive threats from development to London’s Green Belt. It shows nearly 200 threatened sites along with proposals to build 118,000 homes. There is a clear mismatch between the government’s commitment to protect our Green Belt and the impact of its policies on the ground. We believe that our MPs will want to understand this mismatch so … Read more

London Mayoral candidates commit to protecting London’s Green Belt in the run up to the May 2016 election

London Green Belt Council Posted on by

Alice Roberts of CPRE London, a member of the London Green Belt Council, appeared on London Live news in April talking about the welcome commitments from London Mayoral candidates to protect London’s Green Belt. But Alice also pointed to the Prime Minister’s pre-election promise that the ‘Green Belt will be safe with us’, which she said has not been adhered to, and that CPRE London would be monitoring green belt planning referrals to the new Mayor to ensure promises are kept. … Read more

London Green Belt Chair attends RTPI Green Belt event

London Green Belt Council Posted on by

Richard Knox-Johnston attended a high profile event held by the RTPI in the run up to the London Mayoral 2016 election. Raising questions from the floor, Richard challenged the idea that London’s Green Belt must be released for housing to be built on it, pointing out that many thousands of houses which have been granted planning permission are waiting to be built, that there are plenty of brownfield sites aside.

Richard Knox-Johnston presents to Epping Society meeting

London Green Belt Council Posted on by

It was standing room only at the Epping Society meeting on the Green Belt, as an audience of over 200 people engaged with presentations by Richard Knox Johnston, Chair of the London Green Belt Council, Eleanor Lang, the Local MP and other representatives from Epping District and Town Councils. Despite many Local residents stated that they were anxious regarding the future of the Green Belt many also commented that it was great to see such passion and support for it. The Epping Forest Guardian had this to say. … Read more

Response to a Garden of one’s own report

London Green Belt Council Posted on by

Richard Knox-Johnston, Chair of the London Green Belt Council, wrote to the London Evening Standard: “Further to the report A garden of one’s own, Tom Papworth is misguided in his thinking on the Green Belt. “First, we already have excellent high density housing of 100 homes per hectare in London which is not high rise. They are the Georgian and Edwardian squares in Kensington and Chelsea which are very popular places to live. So not all dwellings have to be skyscrapers. Second, building on Green Belt land would provide expensive homes because they are built in the Green Belt, so … Read more

London Green Belt Council Chair meets Kent MPs

London Green Belt Council Posted on by

Richard Knox Johnston, Chair of the LGBC and a Trustee of CPRE Kent which is also a member of LGBC, has met with MPs in Kent to discuss planning issues. The focus of discussions was landbanking – the process by which developers are holding back building homes on acquired sites to help boost profits – and the impact of unrealistic housing targets.

Green Belt sites under threat in Croydon draft Local Plan

London Green Belt Council Posted on by

CPRE London, a member of the London Green Belt Council, has responded to Croydon’s draft Local Plan. Despite National Planning Policy Guidance which states that “Unmet housing need (including for traveller sites) is unlikely to outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and other harm to constitute the “very special circumstances” justifying inappropriate development on a site within the Green Belt”, a number of sites within Croydon’s Green Belt have been allocated for the development of Gypsy and Traveller sites. In addition, a number of other Green Belt locations have been designated for development, such as the designation of Rowden … Read more

Government consults on starter homes in the Green Belt

London Green Belt Council Posted on by

Chair of the London Green Belt Council, Richard Knox-Johnston has written to the Telegraph in response to the government’s consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework which suggests the building of new starter homes in the Green Belt. In his letter here – (you will need to scroll down) – Mr Knox-Johnston calls for increased action to build houses where permission has been given far more quickly. He states “If the land is released and houses built in a timely way this would reduce the pressure on greenfield areas including the highly valued Green Belt.” … Read more