Do you support proposals to build on green belt land?

Angela Rayner is set to advance plans to allocate a portion of the green belt larger than Surrey for housebuilding, asserting that large-scale development in the countryside around major cities is unavoidable.

The deputy prime minister is expected to announce an expanded definition of “low-quality” green belt on Thursday, which experts predict could lead to the construction of approximately 100,000 homes annually on previously protected land.

Conservation groups have expressed alarm, warning of “the worst urban sprawl since the 1950s” and accusing ministers of exceeding initial proposals to focus development on disused petrol stations and other “unsightly” areas within the green belt.

Despite these criticisms, Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to confront “blockers” hindering housing and infrastructure projects by reforming “ruinous” planning regulations. His commitment to delivering 1.5 million homes is a cornerstone of his strategy to drive economic growth.

Later this week, Anglea Rayner will unveil a revised National Planning Policy Framework, instructing local authorities to adopt significantly higher housing targets. While the emphasis will remain on developing brownfield sites, ministers are expected to acknowledge that this alone will “not be enough to meet housing demand,” necessitating the release of some green belt land.

What are your views? Does this proposal cause you concern? Should all green belt land be protected?