Campaigners warn green belt under pressure

The number of homes planned to be built on green belt land has quadrupled in the last eight years, campaigners have warned.

A new report by the CPRE claims more than 250,000 homes are currently planned to be built on Green Belt land – a rise of 475% since 2013.

It also warns that many of these planned developments are not providing the affordable homes needed to tackle the growing housing crisis.

Of the developments on Green Belt land between 2015/16 and 2019/20, only 10% of these were considered affordable by the government, according to the report.

A new poll, conducted by Opinium on behalf of CPRE, also shows a surge in appreciation for local green spaces since the first lockdown, much of which are located on green belt land.

More than two thirds (67%) of the people surveyed said protecting and enhancing green spaces should be a higher priority after lockdown.

And nearly half (46%) reported visiting green spaces more since the start of lockdown – a dramatic 11 percentage point increase since April 2020.

More than half (59%) reported they are more aware of the importance of these local green spaces for mental health and wellbeing since lockdown.

‘Local countryside and green spaces have been a lifeline through lockdown,’ said CPRE chief executive, Crispin Truman.

‘Our poll shows massive public support for protecting these places – their importance for our mental health and wellbeing is undeniable. So, to see the growing level of threat faced by the green belt, the countryside next door for millions of people living in our towns and cities, is extremely worrying.

‘The government can and must act to stop the loss of green belt and ensure greater access to nature and green space is at the heart of our planning system,’ he added.

‘This can be done by making best use of land that’s been built on previously before even considering development on the green belt. The public is crying out for more access to nature, green space and countryside – it’s time ministers realised this and put people and nature at the heart of their changes to the planning system.’

Photo Credit – TimHill (Pixabay)