Tackle urban sprawl with Green Belt, say Conservatives
The Conservative Party has said that Green Belt land should be returned to its original purposes and used to tackle urban sprawl.
Housing spokesman John Hayes said that the Conservative Party would create new green belts to prevent urban sprawl around towns and villages that are in danger of over-development.
Mr Hayes accused Labour of neglecting this “original purpose” while buying parcels of land that were not under pressure for development.
Green Belt land is intended to be kept permanently open and prevent neighbouring towns merging into each other, as well as preserving the countryside.
There are currently 14 designated Green Belts in England , all protected both by normal planning controls and an additional presumption against “inappropriate development” within its boundaries.
There have been concerns that the drive to build more houses could impact upon this land.
Speaking at a press conference on his party’s housing policy, Mr Hayes said that Labour’s additions to the Green Belt tended to be in areas that were “remote and scenic” and did not contribute to the original idea of preventing urban sprawl.
“Green Belts have become increasingly elastic, moving further and further out from their original inner boundaries while new land is only added on their outer edge” he said.
If implemented, his policies would “not necessarily reduce the overall acreage” of the belts but would redirect them to where they were needed. It was possible that the acreage would in fact increase, he added.
