Four Conservative-led London boroughs have refused to participate in Sadiq Khan’s Green Belt review, which aims to examine whether parts of protected green spaces could be reclassified as ‘grey belt’ to allow for housing development.
The Labour-led Greater London Authority (GLA) is overseeing the review, which covers 18 suburban boroughs. However, Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, and Hillingdon have declined the mayor’s invitation to take part, citing concerns over the process and timeline.
The purpose of the review
The Green Belt, a system of protected land surrounding London, has long been safeguarded from development under legislation dating back to before the Second World War. However, the Labour government has pledged to take a more strategic approach by reclassifying “low-quality” green belt land into a new grey belt category.
Ministers argue that this reclassification is essential to meeting the ambitious target of building 1.5 million new homes within the current parliamentary term. Such a rate of construction has not been achieved in the UK since the 1970s.
Despite these aims, Conservatives strongly oppose the move, arguing that the housing crisis can be solved without altering Green Belt protections. Alessandro Georgiou, a Conservative London Assembly Member, has been vocal in his criticism of the policy, stating that “the purpose of the Green Belt is to prevent urban sprawl, not to look pretty”.
Tory boroughs reject Khan’s offer
While all 18 boroughs under review were invited to participate, Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, and Hillingdon formally declined the invitation.
Bromley Council Leader, Colin Smith, explained his borough’s position, saying:
“There was no point accepting the mayor’s offer, given both the very short notice and tight deadline, as well as the fact that Bromley was already undertaking the work of its own volition.”
A spokesperson for Bexley Council echoed these concerns, stating:
“We were given a very short deadline and hardly any details on how the GLA planned to conduct the review. Given the sensitivity and importance of the work, we decided to decline the invitation and apply for funding to carry out our own review, allowing us to use our greater local knowledge of Bexley’s Green Belt.”
Bexley Council also clarified that this decision does not preclude future cooperation with the GLA review, but allows for a more locally informed approach.
Both Croydon and Hillingdon councils were also approached for comment, but did not respond.
Funding and government timelines
In December 2023, the UK Government announced grant funding for councils to conduct Green Belt reviews. Local authorities were required to submit expressions of interest by 17 January.
At a public meeting on 16 January, Sir Sadiq Khan confirmed that City Hall would conduct a London-wide review. However, his office later acknowledged that not all invited councils had chosen to participate.
Responding to criticism, the Mayor’s Office defended the tight deadline, arguing that it was due to the government’s one-month window for funding applications.
The future of London’s Green Belt
The Mayor’s Office has insisted that the review will not directly reclassify any land but will inform the next London Plan, which is due to be adopted in 2027. The London Plan serves as the capital’s key planning strategy, setting policies for future development, housing, and land use.
More Read
A spokesperson for the mayor stated:
“The mayor is committed to working with boroughs across the capital to deliver the homes London desperately needs – while ensuring that any release of Green Belt land meets strict requirements.”
“The mayor remains open to engaging with these four London boroughs in the London-wide Green Belt Review as we work to build a better, greener, fairer London for everyone.”
Cross-party participation
While the four Conservative boroughs have refused to join the review, other councils with varying political leadership have accepted the invitation.
- Harrow, a Tory-led council, has agreed to take part.
- Havering, run by a Labour and Independent coalition, has also signed on.
- The Liberal Democrat-led boroughs of Kingston, Richmond, and Sutton have confirmed their participation.
This cross-party involvement suggests that while some councils remain resistant to the review, others are willing to engage in discussions about potential changes to Green Belt regulations.
Conclusion
The decision by Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, and Hillingdon to boycott the review highlights the deep political divisions over the future of London’s Green Belt policy. While Labour and the mayor’s office argue that limited reclassification could help solve the housing crisis, Conservative-led councils remain firmly opposed, citing concerns about urban expansion and rushed decision-making.
As the debate over London’s housing future continues, it remains to be seen whether the Green Belt review will lead to significant policy changes—or if opposition from key boroughs will stall progress on London’s housing crisis.
