Green Belt land in Redhill and Reigate under threat
Thursday, May 14, 2009, 10:26
Sanctity of the Green Belt has been stripped to pave way for 10,000
homes in the borough.
The publication of the South East Plan informed councils across the
region of the number of houses to be built each year until 2026.
The South East of England Regional Assembly (SEERA) has earmarked
Reigate and Redhill as a key development area in the south-east.
It went further by calling for "small-scale local reviews of the Green
Belt", which could spell disaster for the protective ring around
London.
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, which fought to reduce its
allocation of homes from 11,240 to 10,000, this week viewed the
revised plan as a victory.
But the figure remains 2,260 homes higher than the borough's first
allocation drafted in 2006.
The borough council, which must provide 500 new homes each year for
the next 17 years, says it has already built 50 per cent of the
required houses.
A spokesman also told the Mirror that it was confident the new homes
allocation meant that building on the Green Belt could be avoided.
But Reigate MP Crispin Blunt slammed the plans, claiming the
Government's "top down" approach could create an "urban sprawl" from
the capital.
He said: "Regardless of the local reviews, the plans will mean that
Hazel Blears, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local
Government can, push ahead with developments on the Green Belt.
"This will leave the council in a position where it has to constantly
contest plans. It's an expensive process – and a nightmare."
He called for a "bottom up" approach where "local authorities can
balance the trade-off between damage to the environment and benefits
to residents".
Green Party member Jonathan Essex said developers would push for Green
Belt construction over brown field sites in towns.
Slamming SEERA's plans as "ridiculous"
them [develop- ers] to build in open Green Belt areas.
"Our surroundings should be protected. The Green Belt is our future."
The draft proposals drawn up by SEERA in 2006 prescribed 7,740 new
homes in Reigate and Banstead borough.
This figure was increased by 1,500 in 2007 and then upped by a further
2,000 last year after an announcement by Ms Blears.
Despite a review by an independent panel of inspectors, she revised
the total to 11,240.
Describing the allocation and proposed Green Belt building as "naïve
if not illegal", the borough council made its objections in October
last year.
Councillor Michael Miller, executive member for planning, transport
and housing, talking this week, said: "I am delighted to see that the
Government has listened to the council and reduced our allocation".
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