Labour leader Keir Starmer has set out plans to build on “ugly grey belt land” to boost housebuilding, boost infrastructure and increase green spaces.  

He says the party will release areas for development currently classed as green belt land, should it return to government after the next general election.  

The move is part of the opposition party’s plans to build 1.5 million homes over the next parliament, which it calls “a key plank of Labour’s policy programme”.  

By contrast, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last year pledged to protect the green belt and focus development in towns and cities.  

However, Starmer says a Labour government will put in place five golden rules for grey belt development:  

• Brownfield first – within the green belt, any brownfield land must be prioritised for development  
• Grey belt second – poor-quality and ugly areas of the green belt should be clearly prioritised over nature-rich, environmentally valuable land in the green belt  
• Affordable homes – plans must target at least 50% affordable housing delivery when land is released  
• Boost public services and infrastructure – plans must boost public services and local infrastructure, such as more schools, nursery places and new health centres  
• Improve genuine green spaces – the party rules out building on genuine nature spots and requires plans to include improvements to existing green spaces, making them accessible to the public, with new woodland, parks and playing fields  

Starmer says: “Labour supports brownfield first policies. But we must be honest we cannot build the homes Britain needs without also releasing some land currently classed as green belt.  

“We’ll prioritise ugly, disused grey belt land, and set tough new conditions for releasing that land.   

“Our golden rules will also ensure any grey belt development delivers affordable homes, new infrastructure and improved green spaces.  

“We will get tough on the blockers to back hard-working aspirational Brits, deliver the homes and local services that communities deserve, all while protecting access to genuine green space.”  

Last year the UK added 234,400 dwellings, unchanged compared to the previous 12 months, according to Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities data in November.         

This is below the 2019 Conservative manifesto target of adding 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.          

Home Builders Federation executive chairman Stewart Baseley says: “In the face of an acute housing crisis we support moves to bring forward more suitable land for development.   

“Many areas of the green belt are not beautiful and previously developed sites such as petrol stations or car parks offer great potential for new housing close to transport links and amenities.”