The ‘grey belt’ is a key term in the Labour Government’s planning reforms as they aim to “get Britain building again”.
The ‘grey belt’ is a term introduced by Keir Starmer to refer to certain neglected areas within green belt land.
This, it is hoped, will free up more land for homebuilding by making it easier for people to gain planning permission.
What is the grey belt and how will it be used?
The aim of designating certain areas as ‘grey belt’ land is to free up more land for building as green belt land is notoriously difficult to gain planning permission for.
By highlighting these ‘grey belt’ areas, the new Labour Government is drawing attention to parts of the green belt that are not fulfilling their intended purpose and may be suitable for redevelopment or alternative uses.
Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer put forward proposals for the creation of a fresh wave of ‘Labour New Towns,’ a concept centred around developing, what Starmer termed the ‘grey belt’.
What is the difference between the grey belt and the green belt?
Green belt land is traditionally protected to prevent urban sprawl and preserve the countryside.
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The ‘grey belt’ meanwhile encompasses sections of green belt land that is in a state of disrepair or neglect, such as disused car parks, derelict buildings and concrete wastelands.
Typically, these areas would be classified as brownfield site, which is land that was previously developed but is now vacant or underused. However, due to their location within the larger green belt area, they are still designated as green belt land.
This classification can occur despite the land not serving the typical green belt purpose of preserving natural spaces or preventing urban sprawl.
Who will decide what is grey belt land?
Angela Rayner announced that she will instruct local planning authorities to review their green belt land to identify potential grey belt areas as part of the government’s planning reforms.
The Labour Party’s manifesto states that the development of these grey belt areas will be regulated by “five golden rules,” although the specifics of these rules have not yet been disclosed.
These rules will be crucial for developers and local communities to ensure a balanced approach to development. They aim to enable development while allowing local communities to influence housebuilding in their areas, aligning with Labour’s pledge to involve communities in such decisions.
However, if local planning authorities decide against developing newly designated grey belt land, the government may intervene and override local community wishes for larger-scale projects.
