GREEN BELT PROTECTION

That this House notes that regional spatial strategies removed green belt protection and caused environmental harm; believes that it was right for the Government to announce its early intention to abolish regional spatial strategies and to return decision-making powers on housing and planning to local authorities; welcomes the Government's clarification that local planning authorities and the Planning Inspectorate must have regard to this emerging policy as a material consideration in any planning decisions they are undertaking; and calls on the Government to bring forward primary legislation abolishing regional housing targets outright as quickly as possible.