CPRE
Greenspaces Poll.xlsx
Full
Report - State of the Green Belt 2021.pdf
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Local plans for housing on the Green Belt have
quadrupled in the past eight years according to new research
from CPRE, the countryside charity
-
Access to countryside and green spaces has never
been more important as new poll reveals two thirds of adults
think protecting and enhancing green spaces should be a higher
priority after lockdown
Despite a surge in demand for time in green space,
the Green Belt – the countryside next door for 30 million people
- is facing extreme and sustained pressure, according to new
research from CPRE, the countryside charity. The annual State of
Greenbelt 2021 report reveals there are currently 0.25 million
(257,944) homes proposed to be built on land removed from the
Green Belt – over four times as many (475% increase) as in 2013.
With only one in ten considered affordable, these new homes will
do little to tackle the affordable housing crisis.
This pressure is only set to increase under damaging
changes to the planning system currently being considered by the
government – the analysis reveals the new formula to determine
housing supply proposed by the government could lead to at least
a 35% increase in housing on the Green Belt. The report
highlights a number of local case studies where increased
pressure on Green Belts is leading to the loss of valuable open
land for local communities.
This huge loss of countryside near where people live
is in direct contradiction to overwhelming demand for access to
quality time in green space and nature. A new poll, conducted by
Opinium on behalf of CPRE, shows a surge in appreciation for
local green spaces since the first lockdown, much of which are
located in our Green Belts, and found that:
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Over two thirds (67%) of adults think protecting
and enhancing green spaces should be a higher priority after
lockdown;
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Nearly half (46%) reported visiting green spaces
more since the start of lockdown – a dramatic 11 percentage
point increase since April 2020;
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59% reported they are more aware of the importance
of these local green spaces for our mental health and wellbeing
since lockdown.
Commenting on the findings, Crispin Truman,
chief executive of CPRE, the countryside charity,
said:
‘Local countryside and green spaces have been a
lifeline through lockdown. Our poll shows massive public support
for protecting these places - their importance for our mental
health and wellbeing is undeniable. So, to see the growing level
of threat faced by the Green Belt, the countryside next door for
millions of people living in our towns and cities, is extremely
worrying.
‘The government can and must act to stop the loss of
Green Belt and ensure greater access to nature and green space is
at the heart of our planning system. This can be done by making
best use of land that’s been built on previously before even
considering development on the Green Belt. The public is crying
out for more access to nature, green space and countryside – it’s
time ministers realised this and put people and nature at the
heart of their changes to the planning system.’
Despite evidence that there is already enough space
on previously used land (known as brownfield) and other land
already granted planning permission for the government to reach
its housing targets for the duration of this parliament, the
upcoming changes to planning look set to further increase
pressure on the Green Belt. The report lays out the consequences
of this approach as only 10% of the developments planned for
Green Belt land between 2015 and 2020 are considered to be
affordable. On this trajectory, we risk losing ever more Green
Belt while having no impact on the housing crisis and providing
homes local communities are able to afford.
To make sure we protect and enhance the Green Belt
while allowing for the genuinely affordable new homes that are
sorely needed, CPRE is urging the government to put people and
nature at the heart of the forthcoming Planning
Bill.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About State of the Green Belt
2021
This report investigates the two key ways in which
Green Belt is developed:
1. ‘Exceptional circumstances’ are required to remove
land from the Green Belt, usually with the intention of future
development, through the local plan process.
2. ‘Very special circumstances’ are required to build
on land currently designated as Green Belt determined through
planning applications.
