Andrew Dismore

Barnet and Camden Labour London Assembly member Andrew Dismore AM has today reacted to the Government’s plan to relax National Planning Policy to permit some housing development in the Green Belt.

 

Mr Dismore said:

‘Under a Government consultation launched yesterday , Planning Rules will be weakened to allow councils “to allocate appropriate small-scale sites in the Green Belt specifically for starter homes”. ( see quote below).

‘In Barnet, we have fought hard to protect the Green Belt from encroachment, and if this change goes ahead, it will inevitably be the thin end of the wedge. Such Green Belt development will signal an end to the countryside round areas like Edgware and Mill Hill .

‘ What makes it even worse, is that the so called “Starter Homes” scheme involves private developers building new homes, but only for sale- none for rent . And the price for these, even after the discount, would be beyond local people in need of a home. Housing charity Shelter has found that in London, a £76,957 salary would be required to buy one, putting buyers squarely among the country’s richest.

‘ I will be objecting to this scheme, which will do nothing to meet local housing needs but will destroy forever our vital Green Belt’

 

Quote from Government consultation paper :

 

‘We consider that the current policy can hinder locally-led housing development and propose to amend national planning policy so that neighbourhood plans can allocate appropriate small-scale sites in the Green Belt specifically for starter homes, with neighbourhood areas having the discretion to determine the scope of a small-scale site.’ (para 49)