PM reiterates 'grey belt' approach to new homes

The prime minister reiterated a "brownfield first" approach to planning for new homes

New homes being built on old playing fields rather than on disused car parks because of their location in the green belt is not "particularly sensible", according to the prime minister.

Speaking to BBC South East, Sir Keir Starmer said his government was "determined" to build the houses the country needs, as he reiterated the "brownfield first" approach to planning for new homes.

Under the government's plans, some low-quality green belt land will be freed up to become part of a "grey belt" to allow new homes to be built.

Starmer said: "In the South East, we've had examples in the past of houses being built on old playing fields which were outside the green belt rather than on disused car parks that were in the green belt. I don't think anybody thinks that's sensible."

He said there needed to be a "sensible use" of the green belt "in some places and in consultation with local people".

Established more than 70 years ago, the green belt covers about 13% of England.

It was designed to limit the growth of large built-up areas, and to stop large towns merging into one another.

Starmer's comments come in the week that Elmbridge Borough Council in Surrey was told by a planning inspector that releasing green belt land would be one way to meet the council's need for affordable homes in the borough.

The prime minister could not say if any new towns would be built in the South East when asked if more towns such as Crawley were in the pipeline.

He said: "We do need to see new towns, we've not yet said where they're going to be so I'm not going to get ahead of myself."

His government, he said, would go through a process of deciding where new towns would be built.