Overview

This bill aims to protect green belt land in England by creating a national register of all green belt land as it existed on January 1st, 2021. It restricts the ability of local authorities to de-designate green belt land and controls the density of housing development on land that has been previously de-designated.

Description

The Green Belt Protection Bill establishes a publicly available national register of all green belt land in England as of January 1st, 2021. This register will be updated to reflect any changes in designation, labeling any land de-designated after this date as "Former Green Belt land" and any new designations as "New Green Belt land".

De-designation Restrictions

The bill significantly restricts the de-designation of existing green belt land. Local authorities can only de-designate land if they designate an equivalent or larger area of alternative land as green belt. This substitute land must meet specific criteria: it must be adjacent to areas with above-average housing density, and it must meet any requirements set by the Secretary of State in the National Planning Policy Framework. New Green Belt land cannot be de-designated.

Development Restrictions on Former Green Belt Land

The bill also limits the density of housing developments on land previously de-designated as green belt. New housing developments on this land cannot exceed the density of existing housing in the surrounding area.

Government Spending

The bill's impact on government spending is not directly specified but will likely involve costs associated with creating and maintaining the national register and enforcing the new regulations. Precise figures are unavailable in the provided text.

Groups Affected

• Local Authorities: Face significant restrictions on their ability to manage land use within their areas, potentially impacting local development plans.
• Developers: Will face stricter regulations and limitations on the density of housing developments, particularly on former green belt land.
• Environmental Groups: Likely to view the bill positively as it enhances green belt protection.
• Residents: May experience both positive and negative impacts depending on their location and proximity to green belt land. Those living near potential development sites may face increased pressure if de-designation is blocked. Those living in areas with established green belt may benefit from increased protection.

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