The UK government is prioritizing housing over environmental concerns, with ministers outlining plans that could pave the way for more development on England’s green belt. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced mandatory targets for councils to deliver 370,000 homes annually, emphasizing that meeting these targets would be the priority, even if local plans failed.
Starmer insisted that while he wanted to balance development with environmental preservation, the need for homes must come first. The government has set a goal of building 1.5 million homes during this parliament and pushing forward 150 major infrastructure projects.
The updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) introduces a “brownfield first” strategy, prioritizing disused sites for new building. However, the government acknowledges that brownfield sites alone won’t meet housing needs, leading to the review of green belt boundaries. This will involve identifying “grey belt” land—lower-quality green belt land—that could be used for development.
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook highlighted that grey belt sites could include abandoned petrol stations and low-value scrub land. The government is also committed to ensuring that any development on green belt land meets new “golden rules,” including providing necessary infrastructure and a higher level of social and affordable housing.
The proposals have sparked criticism, with some accusing the government of undermining rural areas and green spaces. However, the government remains determined to address the housing crisis while pushing forward with plans to overhaul planning and infrastructure regulations.
