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Housing minister wades in over local plan green belt concerns
Housing minister Esther McVey has written to the leader of Broxtowe Council to encourage the local authority to prioritise brownfield land when building new homes in the area, rather than building on its green belt.
Ms McVey’s letter to Milan Radulovic, which was made public by the government on Tuesday, suggested that the council should engage with civil servants to overcome any challenges to building on previously used sites.
The area’s local plan was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate last year and the inspector’s report was received by the area this week.
Part of the plan involves altering the green belt boundaries in order to find more sites for housing.
But councils are only allowed to change their green belt under ‘exceptional circumstances’, according to the National Planning Policy Framework.
Ms McVey said she understood that the inspector found the need for housing, the lack of alternatives in preferable locations outside of the green belt, and the limited impact the alterations would have on the purpose of the green belt constituted the exceptional circumstances required.
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“However, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the importance this government attaches to maximising the potential of previously developed land for new development, ensuring the efficient and appropriate use of land when planning to meet housing need,” she wrote.
“My key priority is to ensure that this vital resource is put to productive use, to support the regeneration of our cities, towns and villages, and to limit the pressure on undeveloped green belt land.”
She said that, according to the council’s housing delivery action plan, it had identified increasing the rate of housebuilding on brownfield sites as a “critical corporate objective”.
“I welcome the positive actions that you have set out to address the specific challenges faced in Broxtowe,” Ms McVey wrote.
“However, in the context of the green belt releases proposed in your local plan, I am seeking further reassurance that the council will be making every possible effort to prioritise delivering redevelopment on previously developed land going forward.”
The housing minister said she wanted to better understand the barriers to bringing brownfield land forward for development and encouraged the council to speak to civil servants about how to solve any potential problems.
