UK housing policy sparks debate over development, conservation

The Labour government's new planning policy has mandated local councils to meet the target of building 370,000 homes a year to fulfill a government promise for 1.5 million new homes in Britain over five years.

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The updated National Planning Policy Framework includes guidelines for releasing land from the Green Belt - protected areas surrounding urban regions designed to prevent urban sprawl - under strict criteria, prioritizing brownfield and "grey belt" sites first.

The target of 1.5 million homes includes a focus on affordable housing, but experts like Professor Ben Clifford from University College London's Bartlett School of Planning question whether the policy effectively addresses the actual demand for affordable homes.

"There are places where some demand probably does need to be met through Green Belt review," Clifford told Xinhua news agency, emphasizing the challenges of densifying urban areas and regional inequalities in housing demand. However, he warned that the policy could face significant public opposition, as seen in past planning reforms.