Summary
We feel strongly that the Green Belt is sacrosanct. There is plenty of space in the UK for sustainable housing without having to give in to urban sprawl. Most people in Horsley have chosen it as a place to live specifically because it is Green Belt.
- This campaign has been set up by a small group of people from Horsley
- It has been set up for the main purposes of legal fees
- If we do not reach the goal, we will raise nothing and no money will be taken
Please help us reach this goal of £10,000.
The Green Belt
In United Kingdom town planning, the green belt is a policy for controlling urban growth. The idea is for a ring of countryside where urbanisation will be resisted for the foreseeable future, maintaining an area where agriculture, forestry and outdoor leisure can be expected to prevail. The fundamental aim of green belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open, and consequently the most important attribute of green belts is their openness.
The Metropolitan Green Belt around London was first proposed by the Greater London Regional Planning Committee in 1935. The Town and Country Planning Act 1947 then allowed local authorities to include green belt proposals in their development plans. In 1955, Minister of Housing Duncan Sandys encouraged local authorities around the country to consider protecting land around their towns and cities by the formal designation of clearly defined green belts. This included the Horsleys.
The Issue
The Government formerly set out its policies and principles towards green belts in England and Wales in "Planning Policy Guidance Note 2: Green Belts" but this planning guidance was superseded by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in March 2012. Planning Authorities are strongly urged to follow the NPPF's detailed advice when considering whether to permit additional development in the green belt. In the green belt there is a general presumption against inappropriate development, unless very special circumstances can be demonstrated to show that the benefits of the development will outweigh the harm caused to the green belt. The NPPF sets out what would constitute appropriate development in the green belt.
According to the NPPF, there are five stated purposes of including land within the green belt:
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To check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas
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To prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one another
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To assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment
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To preserve the setting and special character of historic towns
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To assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.
Once an area of land has been defined as green belt, the stated opportunities and benefits include:
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Providing opportunities for access to the open countryside for the urban population
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Providing opportunities for outdoor sport and outdoor recreation near urban areas
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The retention of attractive landscapes and the enhancement of landscapes, near to where people live
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Improvement of damaged and derelict land around towns
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The securing of nature conservation interests
- The retention of land in agricultural, forestry and related uses.
Other Ways You Can Help
This fund will pay for advice in the areas of planning, environment and legal expertise, including the engagement of a barrister specialised in the area of development and planning. It will also fund the further printing of leaflets, posters and other promotional materials.
With this expertise on board, we are confident that we can resist the plans of GBC to sacrifice our villages' green belt status, and forestall the consequential urbanisation of these, and the surrounding villages.
We cannot afford to take a 'wait and see' attitude to this issue, as we may miss a trick, by allowing this highly complex process to overtake matters. However, if you cannot make a financial contribution, please complete the questionnaire and sign the petition.