Government officials have hit back at suggestions that its ambitious house-building targets and critical infrastructure proposals will lead to a new wave of green belt erosion.

Concern is mounting that up to 30 towns across England could lose parts of their green belt, as the government pushes ahead with plans for tens of thousands of new homes.

The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, introduced earlier this year, sets out clear guidelines detailing how these homes should be built, where they should go, and the transport links and economic development needed to support them.

But groups like the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) say the government needs to ensure that environmental protection is at the heart of the scheme.

“The new bill will give regional development agencies (RDAs) – unelected bodies – a lead role in planning for land use,” explained Adam Royle, CPRE’s parliamentary officer. “Ministers have focused on the economic benefits of this new approach, but what of the cost to the environment?”

Keep it local

Campaigners argue that in order to protect green belt land, decisions must be made on a local, not a regional basis.  “Current plans for England’s regions have been beset by legal issues as local communities feel that planned numbers of new houses are neither achievable nor environmentally sustainable,” said Adam.

“The challenge for the government is to provide affordable homes through low carbon development, whilst ensuring that associated infrastructure is delivered in genuine partnership with those living and working in the area.”

But housing minister, John Healey, is adamant that England’s future housing needs must be considered on a regional basis. “What might have been the best thing for Rotherham or Reigate 20 years ago, when the green belt boundaries were set, may now be a case for considering what those boundaries are,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Communities and Local Government added: “The government has put in place robust rules which protect green belt land and we have no plans to change them.

“Our clear priority will remain to build on brown field land, with over 70% of new developments currently placed there. Nationally, the amount of green belt land continues to grow, with a 33,000ha increase since 1997.”