planning

London Green Belt Council.

Grey Belt Threats – Request for Photos. Deadline 16th January.

Message from London Green Belt Council.

An existential threat to the very concept of the Metropolitan Green Belt appears to be emerging as land owners, developers and local authorities alike have this year begun to use the NPPF December 2024 ‘grey belt’ definition to reclassify Green Belt sites for development. Far from the idea presented by government ministers of ‘grey belt’ as small sites, of low-quality and previously developed, many are extensive, agricultural land and/or highly biodiverse.

Can you help?

The London Green Belt Council is seeking photographs (using a mobile is fine) plus brief details of land now redesignated by LAs or argued by developers to be ‘grey belt’.

  • LOCATION (town/area postcode if known)
  • GREY BELT PROPOSAL REFERENCE (planning application/Local Plan)

And if details available:

  • Number of houses, energy infrastructure, solar farms etc, whether mixed development and size of the site you have photographed.
  • Any special features of the site, natural features, footpaths.

If you do not know all the details, the Location and Reference will suffice.

We hope to create a record of how the new NPPF affects our valuable countryside and present it to government and the media in February 2026.

Please send details plus photos as a separate attachment (jpg or similar) by email to info@londongreenbeltcouncil.org.uk by Friday 16 January 2026.

Please keep it simple. See examples on page 2 in document below:
https://rickmansworthresidents.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PHOTOS-OF-GREY-BELT-LGBC.pdf

See this previous article which signposts to sites in Rickmansworth:

https://rickmansworthresidents.org/2024/05/planning-and-local-plan/

By R.D.R.A., ago

Grey belt photos – question

Message received 28th November – via email.

I am willing to take photos.  However, where can we find details of land being designated ‘grey belt?

[ Regarding post: Grey Belt Threats – Request for Photos ]

RDRA response:

Very good question. We’ll have to go through all of the green belt sites in the local plan and see which ones are/can be reclassified as grey belt.  Also look into the developers proposed sites to see if they have been reclassified. At the moment it seems to be a tall order.

But many thanks for your offer of help. Much appreciated.

See this previous article which signposts to sites in Rickmansworth:

https://rickmansworthresidents.org/2024/05/planning-and-local-plan/

By RDRA, ago

Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation: Newly Submitted Sites and New Policies (Part 5) – Deadline 31st August

This message from Three Rivers District Council is what we’ve all been waiting for! It’s important that our members contribute to this consultation on any sites or development in our area.

Three Rivers District Council is preparing a new Local Plan that will guide and manage future development in the district up to 2041. Following on from the previous Regulation 18 consultations which took place in 2021 and 2023, we are now carrying out a supplementary consultation on newly submitted sites and new policies. This Regulation 18 Newly Submitted Sites and New Policies (Part 5) Consultation contains new sites that were submitted for the Council’s consideration following a call for sites exercise earlier in 2025. Individual site assessments for these potential site allocations for housing have been undertaken as part of the Strategic Housing & Employment Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) which is used to identify sites and broad locations with potential for development. This consultation also includes policies which have not yet been consulted on.

It is important to note these sites are in addition to those consulted on in 2021 and 2023. We are asking for your views on these potential new sites so we can consider them together with the previously submitted responses to previous Regulation 18 consultations. This will help us in drawing up a final proposal. To view and respond online to this consultation please visit the Council’s Have Your Say consultation platform, link below:

Link to Consultation Survey (scroll down to ‘Take Survey’ button):
https://haveyoursay.threerivers.gov.uk/local-plan-newly-submitted-sites-policies-consultation

Hard copies of the consultation document and supporting documents can also be viewed in the Council’s offices in Rickmansworth and at the public libraries located in the district. Written responses can be submitted by post to: Planning Policy, Three Rivers District Council, Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 1RL

The consultation period starts on Wednesday 16th July 2025 and ends at 11:59pm on Sunday 31st August 2025.

Further reading

The Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation Documents, accompanying Sustainability Appraisal Working Notes and the evidence base studies which have been completed so far can be viewed on the Council’s website at: https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/services/planning/planning-policy/new-local-plan

By R.D.R.A., ago

Joint Residents’ Association comments on reform of planning committees

The Joint Residents’ Association (JRA) has responded to the technical consultation about the reform of planning committees. Click here to read the JRAs response. Please contact us if you have any comments on the JRAs response.

Note, the JRA combines lots of local associations and therefore have a stronger voice together:

  • Bedmond Residents Association;
  • Can’t Replace Our Green Space;
  • Carpenters Park Residents Association;
  • Chorleywood Residents Association;
  • Chandlers Cross Residents Association;
  • Croxley Green Residents Association;
  • Eastbury Residents Association;
  • Kings Langley & District Residents Association;
  • Maple Cross & West Hyde Residents Association;
  • Moor Park Residents Association;
  • Oxhey Hall Residents Association;
  • Rickmansworth & District Residents Association;
  • Hunton Bridge.
By R.D.R.A., ago

Reform of planning committees: technical consultation. Deadline 20th June

Following on from yesterday’s Joint Residents’ Association meeting, here is a link to the consultation paper on the National Scheme of Delegation for Planning Committees that asks 20 questions. Please review and let us have your thoughts by 20th June so consensus views can be pulled together from all Residents’ Associations.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reform-of-planning-committees-technical-consultation/reform-of-planning-committees-technical-consultation

By R.D.R.A., ago

Referendum for Neighbourhood Plan on 1st May

Message for those who live in the Batchworth Community Council area.

TRDC have organised a referendum for the Neighbourhood Plan on 1st May 2025 alongside the County Council elections. The question they will be asking is ”Do you want Three Rivers District Council to use the Batchworth Neighbourhood Plan to help it decide planning applications in the Batchworth Neighbourhood area?”.

As you know, the plan was created with the involvement of local residents and businesses, but it’s been a while since the last consultation so we are keen to let residents know where they can find more information about the plan prior to voting.

To read the latest version of the Neighbourhood Plan along with supporting documents visit: www.batchworthplan.org.uk

Download poster

By R.D.R.A., ago

Springwell Lane scrap metal site

Message from Planning Enforcement Team.

I can confirm that an Enforcement Notice was served on 6th September 2024 against the unauthorised use of the Land as an unauthorised Scrap Metal Site in consideration of the formal determination to refuse retrospective planning permission. Subsequently, the operators of the site submitted an Appeal to the Planning Inspector who sit above the Local Planning Authority and have the powers to uphold or dismiss an appeal, and in doing so, uphold, quash or vary/correct an Enforcement Notice. 

The Planning Inspector issued the Appeal Decision on 28 March 2025. The Appeal was dismissed and the Enforcement Notice upheld subject to minor amendments.

The compliance period is one calendar month, and accordingly the operators have one calendar month from the date of the appeal decision to comply, i.e before 28 April 2025.

The requirements of the notice are to:

(i) Cease the use of the Land as a Scrap Metal Yard;

(ii) Demolish and remove from the Land all metal sheet fence panels and wooden posts erected in association with the Scrap Metal Yard;

(iii) Remove from the Land all skips, scrap metal, gas canisters, tyres, and waste materials associated with the Scrap Metal Yard;

(iv) Remove from the Land all vehicles and machinery associated with the Scrap Metal Yard;

(v) Remove from the Land all debris, items, building materials resulting from compliance with points (i) ? (iv) above

We will conduct a site inspection on or shortly after 28 April 2025. Should it be established that the Notice has not been complied with at that time, the next step will be to write to all those with a legal interest in the Land, notifying them of the Council’s intention to instigate prosecution proceedings. Failure to comply with the requirements of an Enforcement Notice(s) is a criminal offence, which on conviction, can result in an unlimited fine. 

Separately, in relation to the comments you make in relation to the “effect on the environment”, I can confirm that the Environment Agency attended a joint inspection of the site (at my request) with Council Officers in February 2024. They are aware of this site and where they identify concerns, they have powers to require certain actions. Since the site inspection, the Environment Agency have not shared environmental concerns with me. In any case I refer you to the above action which has been taken by the Council, using powers within its control to deal with the breach of planning control. 

By R.D.R.A., ago