Oliver Campaigns with CPRE Hertfordshire Against the Government’s Threat to the Green Belt

Oliver with Abby Coften and Chris Berry

Following Sir Oliver Dowden calling out the government on its grey belt policy, he met with the Hertfordshire branch of CPRE, the Countryside Charity, to discuss the government’s threat to the green belt.

Oliver talked to Abby Coften, Chief Executive of CPRE Hertfordshire and Chris Berry, Planning Manager of CPRE Hertfordshire, about the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the redesignation of green belt land as ‘grey belt’ land and its impact on planning applications in Hertsmere.

Since the revised NPPF has been brought in, nearly all major planning applications for development on the Green Belt in Hertfordshire has quoted “grey belt” as a reason to grant planning permission. This will likely continue in the future. Already, the effect on both local planning authorities and at planning appeals is reducing very significantly the protection afforded by the Green Belt designation.

Oliver and CPRE agreed to campaign against the government’s green belt as well as inappropriate developments in the local area. 

Sir Oliver predicted at the election that the grey belt would be used as an excuse to tarmac over green belt land. 

Sir Oliver said: ‘Following my question on the grey belt, I was pleased to meet with Abby Coften and Chris Berry from CPRE Hertfordshire. 

‘We are working together to campaign against the government’s disastrous green belt reforms, specifically on the grey belt and the damaging impact it will have in Hertsmere.’ 

Abby Coften said: ‘We are delighted to be working with Sir Oliver on our campaign supporting CPRE Hertfordshire’s petition to protect Hertfordshire’s Green Belt from further destruction. With space for 29,580 homes on recycled land in Hertfordshire, the priority should be brownfield sites not our beautiful countryside. We have already gained over 7,000 signatures for our petition urging the Government to review the grey belt definition in the NPPF reflecting the strength of feeling from the general public.’

CPRE’s petition on their campaign to amend the ‘grey belt’ definition is available to sign here: Save our Green Belt - our campaign for amendment of ‘grey belt’ definition - CPRE Hertfordshire

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