THE RURAL ECONOMIC FORUM 22

ND

SEPTEMBER 2010

SACRED COW OR SACRIFICIAL LAMB?

SHOULD THE GREEN BELT GO?

Richard K King

 “Councils will now be given the freedom to make their own decisions. Not be “bossed around” by Central Government”.

 “The previous Government gave a green light for the destruction of the Green Belt across the Country and we are determined to stop it.”  Strict control of development within the Green Belt, one of the most widely recognised objectives of planning policy

 Green Belts countryside opportunities recreation for provide for the access urban outdoor to sport open population, and  Secure nature conservation interest and help retain land in agriculture, forestry and other related uses.

 Within Green Belt, unlike other areas, presumption against new development, unless it conforms to list of appropriate uses.

 Is Green Belt policy now becoming out-dated and unduly restrictive?

 The Land Use Futures Project, considered most important challenges and opportunities for land use in the UK.

 Recognises the increasing pressure on land and the requirement for land to deliver multiple benefits.

 “The systems and mechanisms that guide land use change in the future will need to reflect new priorities, new trends in patterns of use and changing concepts of how land creates value”.

 Consequence of strict protection of Green Belt has been overdevelopment of urban areas with loss of urban open space and quality of life to urban residents.

 Green Belt restrictions mean that land within rural areas difficult to develop, creating undue restrictions on local communities  Decisions need to take account of the full value of land in alternative uses.

 The Land Use Futures report suggests guiding principle for a more coherent approach would be to society.

combine a more sophisticated understanding of how land creates value for

 Approach would help identify and manage land related problems in urban and rural areas  We need to be more pragmatic  Planning application for Chasetown Football Club for erection of a new stand, changing rooms, storage areas, offices and club shop and other associated facilities on land at Church Street, Burntwood .

CHASETOWN FOOTBALL CLUB

 Within the West Midland Green Belt  Council’s Local Plan Policy, except in very special circumstances, permission will not be given for the construction of new buildings.

 The proposals, by virtue of their scale and nature, went beyond essential facilities envisaged by Green Belt policies  Club not able to progress to a higher league without the new facilities.

 The site located adjacent to the urban edge, the sort of urban fringe sustainable location encouraged by PPG 17  Council decided to support the application

 Benefits to the local economy and benefits to the local community amounted to very special circumstances, sufficient to outweigh harm to Green Belt  Application referred to Secretary of State who confirmed, would not be intervening  Whilst not within Green Belt other examples of successful developments:  National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, within the rural area, presumption against new development unless in connection agriculture or outdoor sports and recreation.

with

National Memorial Arboretum

National Memorial Arboretum at Dawn

 The Recreational Activity Centre at Whitemore Haye comprises a central core which includes sitting areas, dining halls, kitchen facilities, activity and meeting room, sports hall, entrance hall and offices, six dormitory blocks

 Principle supported.

of outdoor recreational use is  Building proposed of size which went beyond essential recreational buildings  Recognised the project made contribution to rural regeneration.

a valuable  Development allowed, recognising opportunities for recreational and educational use of the area and no material loss of amenity as a result of the development

 Easy to hide behind restrictive Green Belt and Rural Areas Policy but pragmatism required in recognising the needs of the rural community  Should the Green Belt go? No.

 Should common sense be exercised in dealing with the Green Belt. Most definitely, Yes.