The UK government is expected to set out a definition of ‘grey belt’ land later this week as Labour aims to ramp up plans to build more homes.

The prime minister last week vowed to face down ‘nimbys’ to achieve plans to build 1.5 million homes and make 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure projects.

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner wants to speed up planning applications, with some potentially avoiding scrutiny by local councillors if they meet certain rules.

She is expected to confirm sweeping changes to the national planning policy framework – the document which sets out national priorities for building – following a consultation.

This is expected to see increased housing targets which will be mandatory for the first time, with the aim of reaching the government’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes this Parliament.

It will also set out a definition of grey belt land that will be included in the framework.

The consultation sets out the government’s position that the default answer to brownfield development should be ‘yes’.

But it also notes that ‘brownfield development alone will not be enough to meet our housing need’.

It adds: ‘To deliver the homes and commercial development this country needs, we are proposing the targeted release of grey belt land.’

The so-called grey belt has been described as low-quality areas of protected green belt land – such as disused car parks and wasteland.

source: PA

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