A House of Lords report has criticised the government’s policy of developing the so-called “grey belt” to meet ambitious housebuilding targets, describing the approach as “rushed” and lacking in strategic rigour.
The Built Environment Committee says the policy is unlikely to significantly boost construction of new homes and raises concerns about its potential impact on infrastructure and the environment.
Under the grey belt scheme, ministers aim to free up “ugly” or low-grade sections of the green belt—alongside underused car parks and old petrol stations—for residential development, helping the government reach its target of 1.5 million new homes by 2029. More than 30 homebuilders have endorsed reintroducing mandatory housing quotas and releasing grey belt land to help ease planning rules.
Lord Daniel Moylan, chair of the Built Environment Committee, says the government “lacks a sufficient understanding” of how a cluster of new planning policies will work together, warning this lack of coherence could hamper delivery on housing goals. The report also questions whether authorities have sufficiently weighed up environmental and infrastructure considerations such as transport links, schools and public amenities. “It is not clear how success or progress will be measured,” Lord Moylan adds.
However, a spokesperson for the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government says the government is “overhauling the broken planning system” and emphasises that the grey belt proposal came after “widespread consultation.” They describe the reforms as essential for unlocking low-quality land to deliver “sustainable, affordable and well-designed” homes.
With housing singled out as a crucial driver of economic growth, policymakers remain under pressure to reconcile the need for more homes with public concerns over the impact on green spaces, local infrastructure, and the environment.
