Britain's housing crisis is deepening. We need more homes in places where people want to live and work. It's time to build upon the antiquated Metropolitan Green Belt that's throttling London.
If you agree, please consider putting your name to a campaign we are supporting.
This isn't about concreting over areas of outstanding natural beauty, protected habitats, local green space etc. – those would remain protected. We just need a presumption in favour of housebuilding on the scattered plots of Green Belt land within a 45-minute travel time of London Zone 1 and less than a 10-minute walk from a train station. This would free up space for over 1 million new homes.
It's a policy of such moral force that the smartest thinkers from the left, right and centre of British politics are now making the case for it. On their side, they cite strong evidence of its drag on economic growth, sympathy towards the increasing numbers of homeless families, the inability of next generation to afford to buy, or its often misunderstood negative environmental impact. The other side just Nimbyism.
Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) doesn't cut the mustard. That's why we are getting behind Siobhain McDonagh, Labour Member of Parliament for Mitcham and Morden, who is campaigning on this issue. The first step is a collective submission to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation and later McDonagh will present an Early Day Motion in Parliament.
Entrepreneurs rely on talent to grow their businesses. A limited presumption in favour of housebuilding on the scattered plots of Green Belt would go a long way to help. Get in touch if you're interested in reading a one-page outline of the submission, with a view to putting your name on a letter supporting it.
Don't Belt Up