Communities and Local Government written question – answered at on 7 May 2009.
Caroline Spelman
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2009, Official Report, columns 1509-10W, on regional spatial strategies, if she will revoke the elements of each regional spatial strategy which specify removal or undermining of green belt protection.
Iain Wright
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Communities and Local Government)
Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) prepared by regional planning bodies set the framework for green belt policy and settlement policy for each region, forming the strategic planning context for local plan making by local planning authorities. The policies expressed in RSSs relating to green belts have been drafted in accordance with national planning guidance set out in Planning Policy Guidance 2 Green Belts.
Further, green belt policy like all policies contained in RSS is subject to testing through an independent examination at the Examination in Public (EiP), the EiP is also chaired by an independent Chair.
The RSSs do not contain policies which would lead to the removal or undermining of the protection of existing green belt; they do contain policies to carry out reviews of green belt in accordance with PPG2 Green Belts.
Yes1 person thinks so
No2 people think not
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