Housing Secretary Angela Rayner will make the final decision on a controversial plan to build 800 homes on green belt land near Albrighton, Shropshire. The case, which began as a 12-day appeal, was elevated to Rayner due to its "important or novel issues" and "significant development in the green belt."
Bonningale Homes, the developer, argues the land off Patshull Road should be classified as "grey belt" rather than green belt. This appeal comes as the Labour government aims to build 1.5 million homes in England by the next election, a target that ministers, including Rayner, have acknowledged will be challenging to meet. In a BBC interview, Rayner stated there was only a "slim chance" of achieving this goal by 2029.
Campaigners, represented by the Albrighton Development Action Group (ADAG), view the appeal as a crucial test case for future green belt policy under Labour's planning reforms. They argue that if they prevail, it will bolster protections for open spaces and farmland nationwide. ADAG maintains the site is productive farmland and core green belt, deserving continued protection.
The decision to have Rayner, rather than the planning inspector, rule on the appeal has drawn criticism. Conservative MP Mark Pritchard described the move as "chillingly egregious" and "ideologically driven," expressing skepticism about the government's track record on homebuilding.
Boningale Homes has declined to comment during the ongoing appeal hearing.