Local planning authorities to give evidence to Lords Grey Belt inquiry

• Richard Seaman, Corporate Lead for Planning, Calderdale Council
• Stephen Kelly, Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning
• Mark Andrews, Head of Planning, Design and Engagement Services, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.

This session, which is open to the public, will be held in Committee Room 3 of the House of Lords and streamed live on Parliament TV.  

Questions the committee is likely to ask include:

• Is the proposed Grey Belt definition and policy clear enough for planning officers to implement without delay?
• Would using the Grey Belt definition identify new possible sites for development, above and beyond those that local authorities have already identified through the local plan process?
• The Government has proposed three requirements for Grey Belt developments including specific expectations on affordable housing, infrastructure, and green spaces. How viable are these in the witnesses’ local areas?
• Will the Grey Belt proposals change local planning and development management practices around Green Belt development?
• What challenges do local authorities face when it comes to development within their local Green Belt?
• Will the success of Grey Belt development be contingent on relationships between neighbouring authorities?

More on this inquiry

The new Government has set itself a target of building 1.5 million homes in five years and developers have warned that meeting increasing housing demand will not be achieved by only building on brownfield sites.

The Government has proposed revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and is consulting on a process for releasing Green Belt land. This includes creating a new designation of “Grey Belt” land.

This short inquiry will seek to gain a better understanding of what Grey Belt land is, how it can contribute to housing targets and what sustainable Grey Belt development looks like.

As part of its work, the committee will consider the Government’s proposed “golden rules” of the sequential test for land release, and the requirements for the delivery of affordable housing provision, infrastructure and enhanced green spaces and how they may affect the success of developments in the Grey Belt.