HL Deb 25 April 1990 vol 518 c573

Baroness Strange asked Her Majesty's Government:

What has been the increase in the total area of land designated as green belt since 1979.

Lord Reay

My Lords, the Government attach great importance to green belts as an essential element of planning policy. The extent of designated green belt in England has more than doubled since 1979. It has increased from 1.8 million acres to 4.5 million acres. That represents nearly 14 per cent. of the total land area of England.

Baroness Strange

My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for his extremely encouraging reply. Can he assure us that land, once designated as green belt, cannot be rescheduled for building purposes?

Lord Reay

My Lords, the essential characteristic of green belts is their permanence, and their protection must be maintained for as far ahead as can be seen. Within green belts there is a general presumption against inappropriate development. Except in special circumstances, the construction of new buildings should not be approved unless it is for agriculture and forestry, outdoor sport, cemeteries, institutions standing in extensive grounds or other uses appropriate to a rural area.

The Earl of Kinnoull

My Lords, will my noble friend say whether the same protection is applied to draft green belt plans as to designated green belt plans?

Lord Reay

My Lords, I assume that the protection required under a green belt requires designation.

Lord Annan

My Lords, I take the noble Lord's point about cemeteries, but is it not also necessary to provide some housing in areas of that kind? Does he agree that that can be done by converting barns which are now disused and not necessary for agriculture in that part of the country?

Lord Reay

My Lords, it is the Government's view that the aim should be to use redundant buildings for purposes which are compatible with the green belt, including institutional uses. On the question of housing, there may be scope for local planning authorities to accept limited, low-cost housing development in existing green belt settlements.

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