'Rushed and incoherent' grey belt won't help Government meet housing targets, say peers
The Government’s grey belt policy, aimed at making it easier to develop low-quality green-belt land, has been 'rushed and not properly thought through' according to a cross-party committee of peers.
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The House of Lords built environment committee has written to the Secretary of State for Communities, Housing and Local Government Angela Rayner, saying that the policy is unlikely to make any significant difference to the number of new homes that can be built.
The committee, chaired by Conservative peer Daniel Moylan, launched an inquiry in November, after the policy was announced in a draft planning framework in July.
Lord Moylan said the committee launched the inquiry because it believed the new category could make a positive contribution to meeting housing targets.
But he said: "The Government’s policy been implemented in a somewhat rushed and incoherent manner.
"The committee does not believe that it is likely to have any significant or lasting impact on planning decision-making or helping the Government achieve its target of building 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament."
