Revised planning rules could concrete over green spaces warns Jeremy Hunt MP.Local MP Jeremy Hunt, this week warned of new planning rules being issued by John Prescott’s department that will undermine Greenfield protection and fuel inappropriate and damaging development. Under the Government’s new proposals, the role of the unelected South East of England Regional Assembly will be strengthened, and councils will be forced to release more land to developers depending on the level of house prices, rather than due to long-term demographic needs. Although the Government said it will now review Green Belt development applications in more detail, Green Belt designation is being slowly erased by new regional plans being adopted by the regional assemblies.Jeremy Hunt is also concerned that the new rules, along with increased regional housing targets, will lead to more approvals being given to developers for unpopular in-fill developments. “The recent application for 9 houses to be built in the Lynch Road area of Farnham is an example of where residents rightly feel concerned that the character of their area is under threat,” commented Mr. Hunt.“I am very concerned that these new planning rules will mean more greenfield development and an increase in urban sprawl. John Prescott claims he wants to approve each Green Belt planning application. Yet under this watch, Green Belt protection has become worthless – being erased on a whim by unelected regional bureaucrats and being sidelined by weaker planning rules.“We need more Green Belts around our towns and villages to prevent over-development. Yet the Government is moving in the opposite direction, risking leaving a concrete scar across the face of area. Our green spaces now face the threat of a sustained assault from John Prescott’s army of bulldozers and concrete mixers.”