One of the most significant changes in planning policy recently is the introduction of the “Grey Belt”. It reclassifies pieces of low quality Green Belt land, therefore allowing development. The hope is the change will help the Government in their push to build 1.5 million new homes. We want to have a closer look at this today after a recent story about the London Green Belt Review. Then, if you need any help with things like guaranteed rent in Bromley, you can talk to us.

Reviews

With Grey Belt now part of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), there is work to reclassify pieces of land that will no longer be Green Belt. The Mayor of London’s office is leading the way in the capital. They invited 18 councils to join a review to assess areas that could be reclassified and allow housing to be built. Funding will be available to help carry out the local reviews.

Interestingly, 14 boroughs will be taking part in the review. The remaining four, Bromley, Bexley, Croydon, and Hillingdon, will not participate.

Bexley Council said they won’t be participating because “we were given a very short deadline” and they did not get sufficient information about how GLA would do the reviews. However, they did confirm that they will apply for funding to do the review themselves. It will allow them to utilise their knowledge and achieve a better local perspective. Additionally, they will be willing to cooperate with the GLA in the future.

Bromley Council Leader, Colin Smith, was also critical of the tight deadline and short notice from the GLA. Councils only had a month to express their interest. He also said the council is already undertaking their own review to see where developments could take place. This is great news for investors, and we’ll be ready to offer services like guaranteed rent in Bromley.

Mayor’s Response

The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, said the review of the Green Belt land in London will not directly reclassify plots. Instead, it will help inform the next London Plan in 2027. Crucially, the GLA wants to ensure the development document will include area-specific policies.

A spokesperson for the Mayor said the GLA was “committed to working with boroughs across the capital to deliver the homes London desperately needs”. As part of this, they will ensure that any reclassification and release of land will “meet strict requirements”. It will ensure the delivery of sustainable and liveable neighbourhoods.

Crucially, the spokesperson also went on to say the Mayor of London will remain open to working with the four councils not taking part in the review. The goal is to “build a better, fairer London for everyone”.

Do you want to arrange guaranteed rent in Bromley?

The reviews of the Green Belt land could have a huge impact. Currently, there are dozens of areas with protection in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The largest concentration is in London. This is understandable because the primary aim of the classification is to prevent urban sprawl. However, the Government argues that they need a more strategic approach to unlock development. So, we are likely to see more plots become Grey Belt in the future.

If you are an investor, it is definitely a good idea to keep an eye on this topic. Any reclassification could trigger development and create fantastic new opportunities. We’ll be on hand to help as well, especially with services like guaranteed rent in Bromley and other parts of London.

So, if you would like any help with assets, please contact us. We’ll answer any questions about guaranteed rent and more.