CPRE/Natural England - National Green Belt Survey completed

The Campaign to Protect Rural England has completed its 'Green Belt: a greener future' survey. It hopes the result of this will influence Government on how to make the best future use of the Green Belt. The first major survey of the environmental state of Green Belt land and the benefits it provides for people and wildlife.

view CPRE Green Belt national survey
for a copy of MGB fact sheet

Greater London Authority asked to strengthen its Green Belt Policies

In its response to the initial consultation paper on the London Plan, LGBC states:
'The London Plan needs to support the Green Belt more specifically, if it is to reflect the strong popular support for the Green Belt reported in the plan's Appendix.'
We are concerned by the reference to strategic rail freight interchanges being in the Green Belt, as strategic rail freight interchanges are quite clearly inappropriate development in the Green Belt and can only be located there if there are very special circumstances.  
The London Plan should reflect this and not state orimply that the Green Belt will be the normal location for them.  The Plan could not be considered sound if it tried to establish a policy which purported to widen the scope of appropriate Green Belt development defined in PPG2.

view LGBC comments

view initial consultation paper on the London Plan

Following the initial consultation, the Mayor has published a draft plan for further consultation. Responses are required by 12th January 2010. LGBC is considering its response.

view the draft London Plan

Rail Freight Interchange at Borough Green in Kent

The proposed interchange threatens 150 hectares within the Green Belt. A formal planning application is expected later this year, if the Kent International Gateway, a nearby scheme, fails to gain approval. CPRE/Protect Kent is strenunously opposing the scheme with strong local support. A meeting of over 300 people held in Wrothamon October 22nd October was addressed by Sir John Stanley MP, Cllr Paul Carter, Leader KCC, and Nick Herbert MP, Shadow Secretary of State for DEFRA.

Borough Green applicants claim to be best site
See E-petition to Prime Minister (now closed, 642 petitions were received) Protect Kent: Stop BIG campaign

Rail Freight Interchange at Radlett Aerodrome

This development is to comprise 5 huge warehouses, each served by a railway siding such that goods can be moved from railway freight wagons into storage in the warehouses and ultimately onto HGVs. The developers, Helioslough, have been working on this proposal for 3 years and the estimated total development cost is approximately £400 million. The site is entirely within the Green Belt comprising over 300 acres of flat land that has been used for gravel extraction. This site is the last large piece of Green Belt land between St Albans and London.

Helioslough's appeal inquiry starts on 24th November
CPRE Herts response
STRIFE campaign
No2Rail Freight campaign
The Radlett Society and Green Belt Association

Oxford Green Belt Way

A copy of the newly published guide to the CPRE Oxford Green Belt Way costs £6.00 (£5 plus £1 p&p).

view Oxford Way information

Government concedes defeat following legal challenge to build homes in the Green Belt

The government has decided not to defend policies for thousands of new homes on green belt in Oxfordshire and Surrey in the South East Plan after legal action. The Campaign to Protect Rural England Oxfordshire, South Oxfordshire District Council and Guildford Borough Council were among five parties that had lodged successful challenges over failure to comply with strategic environmental assessment rules. This also backs up predictions that a landmark ruling on the East of England Plan earlier this year, where the government unsuccessfully defended its policies, would have major implications for other regional plans.

South East Plan challenged
CPRE Oxfordshire report