Archived press release
Go to our press releases area for our current press releases.
Death knell for UK's largest green belt housing development?
19 July 2000
Plans for 10,000 homes west of Stevenage face serious new threat
Plans for one of Britain's most controversial proposed housing development - 10,000 homes mainly on green belt land west of Stevenage [1] - have been thrown into turmoil. A top planning lawyer has advised North Hertfordshire District Council that its local plan,including provision for the proposed development, does not conform with new Government planning guidance, and that any application for planning permission should be rejected as premature [2].
The development would involve the biggest release of Green Belt land in history, and has been fought tooth and nail for many years [3].
The Council has been advised not to make any decision about the development until studies of the potential housing capacity of towns throughout Hertfordshire have been completed. These studies could determine that sufficient homes can be built in urban areas, and that no green belt development west of Stevenage is needed [4].
Tony Bosworth, Friends of the Earth's Housing Campaigner, said:
“This is stunning news, and a real body blow to the developers. It's time to go back to square one, putting the West of Stevenage development on the backburner while local councils decide whether or not it's really needed.”
Terry Figg of Hertfordshire Friends of the Earth, said:
“We have said all along that this development is not needed, and that we should look to towns in Hertfordshire for our new housing. This judgement vindicates our view. We don't need to destroy our countryside to provide people with decent houses.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] Hertfordshire County Council plans to build 10,000 houses in the Langley Valley to the west of the A1(M) at Stevenage. The scheme threatens 800 hectares of Green Belt, and would destroy an area of unspoilt countryside 2 ½ miles long by 1 mile wide, stretching from Langley to St Ippolyts. The scheme would be over two-thirds the size of Hitchin and would create almost continuous urban sprawl between Stevenage and Hitchin.
[2] The advice was prepared by Christopher Lockhart-Mummery QC, instructed by PG Devonald, Head of Legal and Democratic Services, North Hertfordshire District Council
[3] Two previous attempts have been made to use the Langley Valley for extensive housing. The first,in 1962, was defeated by local campaigners including the then MP Shirley Williams. A second attempt, in 1972, was also defeated by taking the case to the Secretary of State for the Environment.
[4] Revised planning guidance on housing was published in March 2000. This requires councils to carry out urban capacity studies to establish how much additional housing can be accommodated within urban areas, and thus how much greenfield land may be needed. Once this has been done, land for housing must be released following a strict sequence: with previously-used (brownfield) land developed before greenfield sites.
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
