Sir Oliver Dowden MP has once again voiced his concerns following announcement of the Labour government’s reforms on planning.

Following a consultation earlier in the year, the government has published a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which includes reinstating top-down mandatory housing targets and redesignating large chunks of Green Belt as grey belt. 

Sir Oliver has voiced his opposition to these reforms in the House of Commons, noting the burden they will place on the Green Belt.

Sir Oliver said: ‘Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I know that the Minister is a man of considerable integrity. So can he be honest with my constituents that the combination of mandatory targets, a massive increase in those mandatory targets and the fig leaf of the grey belt policy means in a constituency like mine, which is almost entirely Green Belt apart from that which is developed on will mean massive new development, an expansion of London sprawl and a change in the character of the area forever.'