Most of the homes set to be built on Labour’s grey belt will be constructed on unspoilt countryside, a charity has warned.
The government’s definition of grey belt includes land on the edge of existing settlements or roads, as well as old petrol stations and car parks.
But the countryside charity CPRE warned the designation poses an “existential threat” to the protections of the green belt.
Roger Mortlock, CPRE chief executive, said: “In practice, the government’s ‘grey belt’ policy has not been about building on petrol stations but an existential threat to the protections of the green belt.
“Our latest research shows that the policy is vague, subjective and misleading to the public. Its lack of clarity has been good news for large housebuilders but bad news for everyone who loves the countryside.
“We know from CPRE branches across the country that the situation is getting worse, as local authorities are so desperate to meet revised housing targets that they are forced to approve speculative development in the green belt.”
The CPRE said that since the policy was introduced in December 2024, 13 developments of ten or more homes have been approved by government planning inspectors on grey belt land in the Green Belt.
The approvals have been granted over the heads of local councils.
Of the 1,250 homes these schemes will deliver, 88% will be built on previously undeveloped countryside.
These developments make up more than 90% of homes granted planning permission on grey belt sites by inspectors. A further 21 smaller schemes, totalling no more than 91 homes, comprise the remainder.
Approval was granted for 57 houses on some of the country’s best-quality farmland, in Tonbridge, Kent.
Meanwhile in Castle Point, Essex, 47 houses have been granted planning permission on a designated local wildlife site.
Both examples comprise green belt land now considered grey belt, the CPRE said.
Emma Marrington, CPRE policy lead, said: “The Green Belt is the countryside next door for almost 30 million people in this country. As well as having some of the country’s best-quality farmland and most important wildlife habitats, these places around our largest towns and cities play a vital role in helping to deliver the government’s target of 30% of land protected for nature by 2030.
“We’ve got to stand up for England’s green belt. Once it’s lost, it’s lost for good.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in April 2024 described grey belt land as “poor-quality scrubland, mothballed on the outskirts of town”, as well as previously developed land such as disused petrol stations and car parks.
He promised: “We’ll prioritise ugly, disused grey belt land, and set tough new conditions for releasing that land.”
The Government has been contacted for comment.