It was widely reported last week via the County Times and BBC that Horsham District Council was seeking to apply for Green Belt in the District.
This would be hugely welcome if achievable.
However I am bemused as to what process HDC intend to use to achieve this, as was the House of Commons Library.
There are provisions by which Districts can seek to amend existing Green Belt in their District (which we do not have).
Otherwise the national framework (NPPF) states that the general extent of Green Belts across the country is already established.
It goes on to say that new Green Belts should only be established in exceptional circumstances, “for example when planning for larger scale development such as new settlements or major urban extensions”.
I am assuming that HDC is not intending either in the next Local Plan and that being the case I don’t know what process they intend to pursue.
I have asked HDC to clarify (letter attached).
PRESS RELEASE
“GREEN BELT Plan: Horsham Council asked to “Come Clean”
Local MPs Jeremy Quin and Andrew Griffith have written to the Leader of HDC (letter attached) asking him whether or not the Council is actually exploring designating part of Horsham District as “Green Belt”. This was announced by the Deputy Leader of the Council at a public meeting in Rusper as extensively reported in last week’s County Times.
Research conducted by the House of Commons Library has not found any process by which a Council such as Horsham which has no Green Belt can itself designate an area as Green Belt.
Andrew Griffith and Jeremy Quin said
“This would be welcome news for residents if true. However while the Deputy Leader of the Council said the process is “not easy or quick”, it appears to be non-existent. If a route existed other councils in the South East and previous Horsham administrations would have adopted it. Having failed to fully exploit the opportunity provided by scarce water to reduce the pressure for building in our District, the Liberal Democrat Council appears to be clutching at non-existent straws.”