The government’s plan to meet housebuilding targets by building on the so-called grey belt is “rushed” and “not properly thought through”, according to a Lords committee report.
The grey belt policy is also unlikely to make any significant difference in the number of new homes that can be built, the report from the House of Lords cross-party Built Environment Committee said.
Money blog: Why you should look beyond your bank for saving
Building on land described as the grey belt, such as ugly areas of green belt land, disused car parks and petrol stations, was one way the government said it could reach its targets of building 1.5 million homes by the end of this parliamentary term in 2029.
The policy was seen as a way to build in the green belt, an area of wild or agricultural land designated as a buffer between towns with tougher planning controls, by marking out some suitable areas for development within it.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
More than 30 home builders signed a statement supporting reintroducing mandatory housing targets and releasing grey belt land from planning rules.
But the Lords committee said the government “appears to lack a sufficient understanding of the implications of introducing multiple intersecting planning policies at the same time”.
This compromises the government’s ability to deliver “any of its policies in a coherent way”, it added.
The report said it was unclear how much environmental concerns and worries about access to infrastructure such as public transport, schools, and parks had been considered.
“The government also does not seem to have any plan to measure progress or determine the success of this policy,” said Lord Daniel Moylan chair of the Built Environment Committee.
“Effective policy must be evidence-based and be able to demonstrate its efficacy. Sadly, this is not the case here.”
Building more houses was identified as one key way the government intends to secure economic growth, its number one priority.
Read more:
Property developers could bypass planning committees
The builder shortage challenging government’s growth plans
Follow our channel and never miss an update
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
The grey belt policy, however, was implemented in a “somewhat rushed and incoherent manner”, said Lord Moylan.
In response to the report, a spokesperson for the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government said it was “overhauling the broken planning system”.
“Our green belt reforms are informed through widespread consultation and will unlock more land for the homes and infrastructure communities desperately need, delivering sustainable, affordable and well-designed developments on low-quality grey belt,” the spokesperson said.
“This is just one of the ambitious housing reforms we have set out to solve the housing crisis and boost economic growth.”
