Built Environment Committee

We’ve responded to the UK House of Lords Built Environment Committee inquiry on the grey belt. Our response highlights that a “brownfield first” approach, which also contains measures to unlock grey belt land, is a positive step towards building much-needed high quality housing provision across the country. However, it is vital that this is accompanied by the necessary infrastructure and amenities to provide material benefit to people’s quality of life. ?? Read our full response: https://ow.ly/CfAF50UbNa7

As part of its inquiry?into?the grey gelt, last week the committee heard evidence from the Country Land and Business Association (The CLA) and the Bath Preservation Trust (BPT). ? Avril Roberts from the CLA, told the committee that: ? ???The proposed grey belt policy would make unproductive agricultural land on the edge of settlements available for much needed housing development. ???If even as much as 10% of all agricultural land within the green belt was developed as grey belt land, it would still constitute less than 1% of all agricultural land in England. ? Alex Sherman from the BPT, expressed concerns about development: ? ???By making construction on grey belt land easier, these proposals might reduce the appetite for development on brownfield sites in urban areas, making it harder to improve inner-city areas. ? Other topics included: ? ???The viability of the 50% affordable housing target for grey belt land. ???Whether existing transport infrastructure is flexible enough to accommodate additional demand from grey belt development. ? ???Watch the session on Parliament TV?https://lnkd.in/eHcKK3W4 ? ???Find out more about the inquiry?https://lnkd.in/ePuJ8s5Y ? #HouseOfLords #GreyBelt #GreenBelt #Housing #Development

The Environmental Audit Committee has launched their first inquiry of the new parliament on environmental #sustainability and #housing growth. You can watch their first session on Wednesday 20th November at 2.30pm Find out more: https://lnkd.in/etH2-uJ8 #UKParliament #UKPolitics #Environment

During last week’s?session?for our inquiry into?grey belt development, we heard from the National Housing Federation and Barratt Redrow.?? ? Philip Barnes?from Barratt Redrow told the committee that:? ? ???he supports the proposals in principle, with minor changes? ???the designation of grey belt land could?deliver an extra 50,000 homes per year.? ? Marie Chadwick?injected a note of caution, however, telling us that:? ? ???the current proposed definition of grey belt land risks confusion among planners? ???specific examples of grey belt land are needed?to give planners clarity. ? Other topics?included:? ? ???whether the?50%?affordable housing target was appropriate for all?grey belt development? ???the suitability of grey belt land sustainable development. ? ???Watch the session on Parliament TV?https://lnkd.in/eY6qmbQB ? Next week we’ll hear from the Bath Preservation Trust and the The CLA. ? ???Find out more about the?inquiry?https://lnkd.in/ePuJ8s5Y ? #HouseOfLords #BuiltEnvironment #GreyBelt #Planning #Housing

Will the government’s proposals to designate land as grey belt increase the likelihood of legal challenges to local authority planning decisions? This week we heard from Simon Ricketts, Partner at Town Legal LLP and Paul Cheshire CBE, emeritus professor of economic geography at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). ? Topics discussed included:? ? ?? the proposed definition of grey belt land?? ?? reasons for developers not building on land with planning consent? ?? the complexity and expense of the planning appeals system? ?? pros and cons of introducing a land value tax. ? ?? Watch the session on Parliament TV?https://lnkd.in/e3Z7NZ7j ? ?? Find out more about the inquiry https://lnkd.in/ePuJ8s5Y #HouseOfLords #BuiltEnvironment #GreyBelt #Housing #Planning

Will the government’s requirement for 50% affordable housing on grey belt sites be deliverable? ? This week, we heard from Calderdale Council,?Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, and?Greater Cambridge Shared Planning?as part of our inquiry into the grey belt. ? Representatives Richard Seaman, Stephen Kelly and Mark Andrews shared their opinions on the impact of the new grey belt definition. We heard: ? ???the new definition lacks clarity, which could present challenges in implementation ? ???50% affordable housing may not be sustained by land values, and targets set by local plans may be preferable ? ???the government’s proposals may lead to opportunism from landowners and the housebuilding industry, who might prefer to progress small sites on the edges of villages with lower infrastructure lead times and costs ? ???the current green belt releasing approach maintains public confidence through a structured process of consultation, refinement, examination and the report from the inspector. ? ???Watch the session on Parliament TV?https://lnkd.in/e52gPruR ? ???Find out more about the inquiry?https://lnkd.in/ePuJ8s5Y ? #HouseOfLords #Housing #GreyBelt #AffordableHousing

On Tuesday, as part of our?new inquiry on the grey belt, we heard evidence from Victoria Hills from the?Royal Town Planning Institute?and Dr Hugh Ellis from the?Town and Country Planning Association. ?? Find out what they had to say Dr Ellis said: ? 'The grey belt proposition is an entirely new planning concept. As a result its definition is extremely broad and will create a great deal of confusion because it’s trying to create a new classification of land, but underneath that classification there isn’t the research and evidence to support what grey belt actually means.' ? Victoria Hills added: ? 'We feel the government could go a lot further by making any release of land prerequisite on it being in a location which is accessible by public transport. Having access to public transport choices is fundamental to the principles of sustainable development.' ? On how land is determined as providing a 'limited contribution' to the green belt, Dr Ellis said:? ? 'I think it is extremely difficult and my best professional advice to the committee is that the term ‘limited contribution’ should never be used in national planning policy. ? 'Green belt is not expansive, even London’s green belt is fragmented, so the definition is going to have to pull off something really quite extraordinary which gets to the paradox of this policy, which is if the government expects large-scale housing development to happen then the fundamental principles will be undermined. If they are not undermined, large-scale housing provision will not happen.' ?? Watch the session in full on Parliament TV https://lnkd.in/gA8Mppax ?? Find out more about the inquiry https://lnkd.in/ePuJ8s5Y

If you haven't yet submitted your written evidence to our inquiry into the #GreyBelt there is still time. We've extended the deadline until 21 October. ?? Find out more

???We’re receiving written evidence for our inquiry into the government’s grey belt proposals.?? ? Have you submitted yours yet?????Share your views by 21 October 2024 https://lnkd.in/eBqmmquz? ? The committee has received written evidence submissions with a wide range of views. Some state that the approach is a pragmatic option that is more streamlined than current processes, while others argue that the approach is confusing and unlikely to succeed.? ? Submissions include views on:? ? ??The scope and limitations of the grey belt definition.? ??The speed and scale of housing delivery through releasing grey belt land.? ??The amount of guidance required for making planning judgments.?? ? #HouseOfLords #BuiltEnvironment #BuiltEnvironmentCommittee #GreyBelt #GreenBelt #UKHousing #Planning #HouseBuilding

?? How many new homes can be built on grey belt land?? The government has proposed the development of grey belt land to help meet its target of delivering 1.5 million homes during this Parliament. The House of Lords Built Environment Committee wants your views on issues including:? ? ?? How this process compares to the existing approach to building on the green belt.? ?? What should accompany new grey belt developments to ensure that they are good places to live.? ?? How affordable housing can be delivered successfully as part of new development on grey belt land.? ? ? Share your views by Monday 21 October https://lnkd.in/eBqmmquz?? ? The Built Environment Committee is a cross-party group of House of Lords members considering policy related to housing, planning, transport and infrastructure. From the regeneration of high streets to the impact of environmental regulations on development, it holds inquiries taking views from a range of people and publishes reports with recommendations to the government.? ? ? Follow the committee on LinkedIn for more https://lnkd.in/eh5UFaCf? ? #HouseOfLords #BuiltEnvironment #BuiltEnvironmentCommittee #GreyBelt #GreenBelt #UKHousing #HouseBuilding