Object
Strategic Growth Options
Representation ID: 3991
Received: 11/02/2015
Respondent: Dr Philip Gibbs
Sometimes areas within green belt become brownfield because developments of a kind that do not lose its rural nature have been allowed. This should not be used as a stepping stone to remove these areas from the green belt. If the original use is no longer needed they can be returned to their former state. Each green belt site should be judged on its own merits in terms of its natural habitats and amenity as green belt land irrespective of whether it is currently regarded as greenfield or brownfield.
It depends on the nature of the "brownfield" sites. Sometimes areas within green belt become brownfield because developments of a kind that do not lose its rural nature have been allowed. This should not be used as a stepping stone to remove these areas from the green belt. If the original use is no longer needed they can be returned to their former state. Each green belt site should therefore be judged on its own merits in terms of its natural habitats and amenity as green belt land irrespective of whether it is currently regarded as greenfield or brownfield.
I think that it is necessary to make use of all sites that are not on green belt to their full capacity before considering any development on green belt land.