Build on brown, save green
Build on brown, save green

Northumberland Labour  are asking the public to sign a government petition to make it illegal for developers to build on greenfield sites or farmland when local brownfield sites are available.

Labour Group leader Susan Dungworth said: “Our countryside is disappearing at an alarming rate. We want to stop developers automatically building on green land when brownfield sites (where factories, shops or housing have stood before) is available.

“The effect on climate change is also unprecedented. Yet the government is not only allowing the destructive policies to continue, but in a lot of cases where local residents and local authorities have refused planning permission for development on greenbelt land and farming land, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has unilaterally overturned the democratic wishes and decisions of local residents and local authorities.

“There is an abundance nationally of brownfield sites that have stood idle and neglected while greedy developers are on a daily basis aided by central government procuring green belt land and farm land which in turn is taking away some of our most wonderful and beautiful landscapes transforming them from natural green to concrete grey or asphalt black.

“On behalf of Northumberland Labour, I was one of the politicians who signed an open letter to Robert Jenrick calling for brownfield developments to be prioritised in law to save our green belts and farm lands.

“We want to enshrine in law that all brownfield sites must be fully developed within a 25 mile radius of green belt or farmland before any development is allowed on non-brownfield land. We also want to the law to include the democratic wishes of local residents and local authorities as a precedent and limit ministerial powers.”

The government has a duty to:

  • protect the environment against climate change
  • protect local areas of outstanding beauty and natural habitat
  • preserve today’s biodiversity and bio abundance for the generation of tomorrow

    Ms Dungworth added: “Nature and wildlife is at threat of extinction at the detriment of unnecessary housing development and where today’s generation may still have the benefit of existing wildlife tomorrow’s generation will only have the benefit of wildlife pictures.”

    You can help by signing this petition:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/575169

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