The coalition government is relaxing planning rules at the behest of housebuilders who want to build on green field sites. They’d rather do this than reworking existing sites – brown field sites – because it’s cheaper. There is a risk that the planning system will make it easier for developers to evade planning rules here in Camden – it’s not just an issue for the countryside.
Green Party Leader, Caroline Lucas MP, said: "The new national planning proposals expose this Government's shocking bias towards big business and its determination tear up protection laws for our precious countryside. Ministers are intent on scrapping the policy of building on brown field sites before green field sites and the duty to ensure that new developments minimise road traffic.
"The Greens recognise the urgent need to build more homes in order to address the housing crisis in this country, but the main obstacle isn't the planning system, it's the lack of money - thanks in no small part to the Government's decision to cut the affordable housing budget by 60%.
"This new planning policy is likely to prove about as popular as the Government's ill-conceived plans to sell off the forests - and we need Cameron do a similar U-turn as fast as possible."
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