Overview

This bill aims to protect Green Belt land in England by creating a national register, restricting its de-designation by local authorities, and controlling development on land that has been removed from the Green Belt.

Description

The bill establishes a publicly available national register of all Green Belt land in England as of January 1st, 2022. This register will be updated to reflect any changes, identifying land removed from the Green Belt as "Former Green Belt land" and newly designated land as "New Green Belt land".

De-designation Restrictions

Local authorities will be prevented from removing land from the Green Belt (as of January 1st, 2022) unless they designate an alternative area of equal or greater size. This replacement land must meet specific criteria: it needs to be adjacent to areas with above-average housing density, and it must comply with national planning policies. Importantly, newly designated Green Belt land cannot be de-designated.

Development Restrictions on Former Green Belt Land

The bill restricts housing density on land previously designated as Green Belt. New housing developments on this land cannot exceed the density of adjacent housing.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly specify government spending figures. The costs would likely relate to establishing and maintaining the national register and enforcing the new regulations. No figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Local Authorities: Will face restrictions on their power to de-designate Green Belt land, requiring them to find and designate replacement land that meets specific criteria.
• Developers: Will face restrictions on the density of housing developments on land formerly designated as Green Belt.
• Environmental Groups: Likely to view the bill positively as it aims to protect Green Belt land.
• Residents: Those living near Green Belt land may see its protection enhanced, while those hoping for new housing developments in these areas may face limitations.

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