June 2021
Richard Knox-Johnston, Chair of LGBC, has written to the Prime Minister expressing grave concern at a recent planning appeal decision at Roundhouse Farm, Land off Bullens Green Lane, Colney Heath.
In his appeal decision, the Inspector agrees that the proposals would cause harm to the Green Belt and attract substantial weight. However the Inspector goes on to state that both of the Local Authorities (Welwyn and Hatfield and St Albans) who jointly have responsibility for the site, have acute housing delivery shortages and acute affordable housing need.
In a letter to The Rt Hon Theresa May dated 26th October 2016, the Secretary of State says – “It has never been the case that an area of Green Belt can never be altered, but any such changes are locally-led and can be made only in exceptional circumstances by means of the Local Plan Process, following public consultation and independent examination by a planning inspector to ensure the Plan is sound.”
There is an assumption in this statement that changes to the Green Belt will be locally led and this is not the case in this appeal decision. Local people and the Councillors they elect in two authorities were against these applications. From this it could be taken that local views and concerns account for little in such planning decisions, contrary to the statement of the Secretary of State.
In a letter to Members of Parliament for English Constituencies dated the 7th June 2016, Brandon Lewis, the then Housing and Planning Minister stated “The framework makes it clear that inappropriate development may be allowed only where very special circumstances exist and that Green Belt boundaries should be adjusted only in exceptional circumstances, through the Local Plan process and with support of local people. We have been repeatedly clear that demand for housing alone will not change Green Belt boundaries.”
In his appeal decision, the Inspector states that “My judgement leads me to conclude that the site strongly resonates with this urban edge definition provided by the 2005 Landscape Strategy.” It therefore appears that any part of London’s Green Belt which adjoins an urban area would fit into this category. This would mean that, as a result of this appeal any land which forms the border between the Green Belt and the urban area would come in the same category. It could then be inferred that once this site was complete then the adjoining area of Green Belt would be under threat.
It has already been inferred by Queen’s Counsel that this appeal decision is likely to lead to the watering down of Green Belt protection. Our letter to the Prime Minister requests that this appeal decision is reviewed and reversed in order to protect London’s Green Belt for its important role in the climate emergency for future generations.