Try GOLD - Free
Rayner: Councils must yield green belt to build housing
The Independent
|December 12, 2024
Angela Rayner has announced that councils will be forced to surrender large parts of the green belt to achieve immediate new housing targets.
The move comes as ministers scramble to deliver their pledge to build 1.5 million new homes over five years.
Under the plans, local authorities will have to review the green belt’s boundaries. And they will have to use “grey belt” land, Sir Keir Starmer’s term for low-quality areas of the green belt, to meet ambitious mandatory targets to build 370,000 new homes a year.
Yesterday it was reported that the controversial plans would give priority for housebuilding to an area of the green belt larger than Surrey.
In a bid to head off criticism, Ms Rayner, the deputy prime minister, said she would not shy away from “bold and decisive action” to fix the housing crisis.
This story is from the December 12, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Independent
The Independent
'How long we dreamt of this day': joy and pain of families and those released after deal
Very different homecomings for freed Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners were witnessed by Bel Trew in Tel Aviv, Rateb al-Qaissy in Ramallah and Nedal Hamdouna in Gaza
4 mins
October 14, 2025
The Independent
Marinating in the milk and honey of Israeli hyperbole
As you might expect, the “sermon near the Mount”, as delivered by Donald Trump to the Knesset in Jerusalem, was less a case of “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God” as “Blessed are you lot to have me, and you will call me your peacemaker.”
3 mins
October 14, 2025
The Independent
Robinson had thousands in cash when held at border
Asked for his phone PIN, activist said: 'Not a chance, bruv'
2 mins
October 14, 2025
The Independent
Trump must learn patience for Gaza peace to endure
The hostages are free. That – not the bombastic and performative speech given to the Knesset by Donald Trump, or the self-congratulatory and ingratiating performance by the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu - was the most important event of a historic day.
3 mins
October 14, 2025
The Independent
MPs warned they're targets of China and Russia agents
MI5 has warned MPs that they are being targeted by China, Russia and Iran through espionage in a shock warning.
3 mins
October 14, 2025
The Independent
UK had 'vital role' in Gaza plan, insists Trump envoy
Witkoff intervenes amid row over Britain's involvement
3 mins
October 14, 2025
The Independent
Macron refuses to resign as he unveils his latest cabinet
President under pressure as his country faces constitutional crisis but he insists he has 'to serve, to serve, and to serve'
3 mins
October 14, 2025
The Independent
Trump urges Israel to make peace in address to Knesset
Donald Trump urged Israel to shift focus from waging war against Hamas to what he called the ultimate prize of “peace and “prosperity” in the Middle East region as he became just the fifth American president to address the Knesset.
4 mins
October 14, 2025
The Independent
ON THIS DAY
AD54: Roman Emperor Claudius I died after eating poisoned mushrooms as a result of a plot inspired by his wife, the Empress Agrippina.
1 mins
October 13, 2025
The Independent
Striking a powerful chord to destigmatise menopause
Well, this is a bit of a downer, isn't it? Those were my precise thoughts about halfway through the first episode of Riot Women, the new BBC One drama from Happy Valley mastermind Sally Wainwright. Like Happy Valley, it's set around Calderdale in West Yorkshire; like Happy Valley, its focus is firmly trained on women in midlife. But somehow, the introductory 30 minutes or so of Riot Women seemed to be even more depressing than a show that dealt with inherited trauma, addiction, murder and sexual assault. Or so I thought.
3 mins
October 13, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size