Planning Bill

The Government share the concerns of the noble Lords, Lord Cobbold and Lord Reay, that communities should be able to evolve over time for precisely the reasons also set out by the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin. However, we are in no doubt that the existing controls set out in PPG2 already provide robust protection to the green belt and local flexibility to enable proportionate development in villages. PPG2 places a presumption against inappropriate development in the green belt, which has played, and will continue to play, a crucial role in preventing urban sprawl and encroachment on the countryside. However, PPG2 does not preclude all development in the green belt and specifically recognises the need for some development in villages. I would draw the Committee’s attention to the policy—