Get the next four copies of this fantastic magazine delivered directly to your door.
Always featuring numerous articles on a wide range of eco-building projects from all around the UK, most of which are written by the very people that designed or built them. It is the ideal read for architects, builders, developers, self builders and anyone interested in eco-building, including interested homeowners/clients.
|
|
|
No building on green belt says Pickles |
|
 
|
|
|
|
9 Oct 2012, 7:51 PM
|
The green belt will be protected, and the Conservatives will do all they can to preserve “the character of the countryside”, according to Eric Pickles. These comments from the Communities secretary are the clearest signal yet that ministers are not planning to re-open the bitter planning debate.
|
Pickles' announcement comes several months after the publication of new planning rules in England.
England’s green belt covers over 6,000 square miles of countryside, which is wrapped around towns and cities to prevent urban sprawl. There have been persistent reports that ministers are looking at loosening rules on building on the green belt in an Economic Development bill in the next few weeks.
But, in a speech to the Conservative party conference in Birmingham, Pickles will make clear that ministers will not allow weakening in green belt protections to boost economic development. He will say: “There has been a lot of press speculation in recent weeks on the green belt. Protecting the character of the countryside is stamped deep into the heart of Conservatism. And let me tell you – the green belt plays a vital role in stopping urban sprawl and we will protect it.”
Pickles will also announce new powers to allow for councils literally to stop travellers’ caravans from setting up illegal camps. He will say that “new instant stop notices will allow councils unlimited fines for those who ignore planning rules and defy the law. We will stand by law-abiding citizens who play by the rules and use the full force of the law against those who play the system.”
The comments about the green belt will delight campaigners who have been preparing for a major battle with the Government over planning this autumn. The Economic Development Bill had been expected to propose weakening green belt protections to encourage more building.
In his first outing in the Commons as planning minister Nick Boles MP did little to reassure campaigners by saying the green belt was only safe “for now”. Friends later said that he had not meant to sound any alarm with his comments.
The Daily Telegraph understands that the draft legislation only includes a handful of clauses relating to planning, dealing mainly with proposals to accelerate planning inquiries and allowing ministers to intervene more often.
Ministers are unwilling to reignite the row over the new National Planning Policy Framework, which was amended to protect greenfield sites after a campaign by groups like the National Trust in April.
The paper also demanded a rethink through its Hands Off Our Land campaign. Analysis last month showed they were 400,000 plots across England and Wales with planning permission for work to start – enough to last for three and a half years. In the five months since the framework was published framework came in 85,000 building schemes have been given the green light – 10,000 more than in the five months before the rule change.
Credits:: Christopher Hope - The Telegraph
|
|
|
| Positive review of this story |
Gerry Goldner  |
23 Nov 2012, 4:52 PM |
 |
green belt not be violated Reading the headline, is this a true or false statement. The answer can be yes or no
Where I live in Castle Point South East Essex [all in post code SS7] developers are active with planning applications for at least 5 sites. They all seem to have started in the last 4 months. Could it be that the local development plans are being revised and therefore not approved?
|
|
