Member

I thank the noble Baronesses, Lady Maclean and Lady Scott of Bybrook, for their Amendments 121 and 239 on the Government’s green-belt reforms, including protection of villages. Amendment 121 seeks to require the Secretary of State to publish a framework that sets the criteria by which land should be designated as green belt, and to set out a definition of grey belt and how green belt should be monitored. We believe this amendment to be unnecessary, as our revised framework is already clear on how grey belt should be defined, with accompanying guidance setting out the considerations for decision-makers in identifying grey-belt land. It is also clear on the circumstances in which green belt should be established, altered or reviewed. The most recent changes to the framework were subject to extensive consultation, and we made changes in response to the points raised. As green belt is identified and amended within local plans, it is right that green-belt policy be set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.