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The UK government is set to unveil a new planning system that could see local councils being forced to consider building on green belt land in order to meet the demand for 1.5 million new homes needed to solve the country’s housing crisis. However, some local councillors and residents fear that such a move would have a devastating impact on local communities. One such concern is in a small village in Kent where Quinn Estates developers want to build 8,400 homes, new schools, and a new road.
Monique Bonney, an independent councillor for the region of Kent, opposes the development. In addition to the proposal’s size, concerns have been raised over its affordability and the proposed level of infrastructure. Chris Mitchell, landlord of the local Fruiterers Arms pub, also opposes the development, noting that the village would no longer serve as a village but would instead become a commuter town to London.
Various body members of the local council opposed the development, but it was overruled by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, who “called in” the council’s decision. This means that the government will take over the planning application rather than allowing the local authorities to decide. Rich Lehmann, a local Green Party councillor, described Rayner’s decision as “very undemocratic”.
The housing secretary claims that the changes will force councils to prioritize brownfield sites for new building projects while providing incentives for faster planning application processes. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) also mandates that councils must deliver 370,000 homes annually in England and identifies lower quality green belt land – or “grey belt” – that could be built upon
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