: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:20 pm
Green belt land can be previously developed land (I think 'virgin' land is known as green field). As I understand it councils can redesignate land according to their overall needs, but I'm guessing as the government set the criteria for this decisions are subject to their apporval.
I suppose the bigger concern isn't just the site itself, but the impact it has on the wider area, e.g. access, traffic, views, etc. However as pointed out, we aren't talking ancient woodland or an area of outstanding natural beauty here. I'd like to think that the experience of the developers, council etc combined is a sound guide that they think it is a fair proposal. There was also one quote from someone in the paper eco-type (friends of Stanley Marsh) that approved.
With some irony, I mention that one of the purposes of greenbelt is to prevent neighbouring towns merging into each other.