Green Belt land in Redhill and Reigate under threat

Sanctity of the Green Belt has been stripped to pave way for 10,000 homes in the borough.

The publication of the South East Plan informed councils across the region of the number of houses to be built each year until 2026.

The South East of England Regional Assembly (SEERA) has earmarked Reigate and Redhill as a key development area in the south-east.

It went further by calling for "small-scale local reviews of the Green Belt", which could spell disaster for the protective ring around London.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, which fought to reduce its allocation of homes from 11,240 to 10,000, this week viewed the revised plan as a victory.

But the figure remains 2,260 homes higher than the borough's first allocation drafted in 2006.

The borough council, which must provide 500 new homes each year for the next 17 years, says it has already built 50 per cent of the required houses.

A spokesman also told the Mirror that it was confident the new homes allocation meant that building on the Green Belt could be avoided.

But Reigate MP Crispin Blunt slammed the plans, claiming the Government's "top down" approach could create an "urban sprawl" from the capital.

He said: "Regardless of the local reviews, the plans will mean that Hazel Blears, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government can, push ahead with developments on the Green Belt.

"This will leave the council in a position where it has to constantly contest plans. It's an expensive process – and a nightmare."

He called for a "bottom up" approach where "local authorities can balance the trade-off between damage to the environment and benefits to residents".

Green Party member Jonathan Essex said developers would push for Green Belt construction over brown field sites in towns.

Slamming SEERA's plans as "ridiculous", he said: "It's cheaper for them [develop- ers] to build in open Green Belt areas.

"Our surroundings should be protected. The Green Belt is our future."

The draft proposals drawn up by SEERA in 2006 prescribed 7,740 new homes in Reigate and Banstead borough.

This figure was increased by 1,500 in 2007 and then upped by a further 2,000 last year after an announcement by Ms Blears.

Despite a review by an independent panel of inspectors, she revised the total to 11,240.

Describing the allocation and proposed Green Belt building as "naïve if not illegal", the borough council made its objections in October last year.

Councillor Michael Miller, executive member for planning, transport and housing, talking this week, said: "I am delighted to see that the Government has listened to the council and reduced our allocation".