Report calls for end to green belt policy

The national green belt policy should be abolished according to a report released by the Policy Exchange.

The centre-right think tank claims the current system is to blame for rising land and house prices and has restricted economic growth in the UK.

Dr Oliver Marc Hartwich, the reports co-author, said: “The planning system in the UK has been intended to restrict physical development, reducing economic growth as a result.”

“Labour has made it a matter of policy that 60% of any new housing should be built on so called ‘brownfield sites’. This policy…results in high house prices and higher land prices.”

The report says national projects should be decided through Parliament and more powers should be given to local authorities to allow development.

However, the Policy Exchange report is a “tissue of misinformation” according to Royal Town Planning Institute president Jim Claydon.

He said: “It is confused and often contradicts itself. [It does not] recognise contributing factors, such as employment patterns, transport infrastructure or good schools.”

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