Jeremy Corbyn has reaffirmed the Labour’s party’s commitment to the green belt and called for brownfield development at higher densities.
In a speech that made little mention of housing at today’s CBI conference in London, Corbyn said in response to a question from former RICS present Louise Brookes: “I’m very sceptical about building on the green belt.”
Corbyn said he wanted to see more homes built “with quality, high energy efficiency standards and predominantly on brownfield sites. Where there is a substantial new development it should be accompanied with schools, with health facilities and parks. I feel very strongly about the principle of the green belt. If you take away this cordon of green space and clean air around cities you have the danger of massive ribbon developments.”
But he insisted the planning system could deliver without placing stress on the green belt. “I’m in favour of good quality planning – sometimes at very high density, but well planned it can be very good – on brown-field sites and in urban areas.”
The opposition leader also said he was against permitted development rights and a presumption in favour of development.
“Planning as its best is something we all participate in. If we take local authorities and communities out of the equation by either a presumption in favour of development or permitted development rights that allow conversion of industrial and office premises into housing with no local authority input, I don’t think that’s a good thing at all.”
Instead, he said: “Deal with the housing crisis, protect your open space, plan sensibly and intelligently for the future and think about the stress for people living in poor-quality housing.”
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