New research published today shows how the Government is applying pressure to local authorities to approve planning applications to build schools on Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) – land which the Government itself says should not be built on.
CPRE London’s report, published today, shows the Government’s Education Funding Agency is involved with identifying and acquiring Green Belt and MOL sites which are not identified in the local plan.
Alice Roberts of CPRE London said: “When public authorities are involved with the acquisition of land on a speculative basis in this way, it is highly prejudicial to the development plan process and it is not transparent as there has been no public consultation. It also undermines the proper investigation of alternative sites. Most concerning, it puts the planning authority under pressure to consent to the development.”
She continued: “It also amounts to double dealing. The Government, even the Prime Minister, has pledged to protect the Green Belt[2]. So we want to know why the Government’s Education Funding Agency is seeking to build schools on protected sites?”
The report is published on the day that Hounslow Council Planning committee meet to decide an application to build a school on the White Lodge site – an MOL site which was recently bought by the Government’s Education Funding Agency. Planning officers have recommended it for approval. Local campaigners have raised a host of objections.[3]
ENDS
3. The council meets on Thursday 3 December to consider the application. Local campaigners objections can be found here: http://keeposterleygreen.org/
