Labour announces 'strategic release of greenbelt land' to meet housing pledge
Labour is today revealing more details about its housing plans, should it form the next government.
Speaking to Sky News, the party's shadow housing secretary Matthew Pennycook accused the Tories of "presiding over an acute and intensifying housing crisis", saying there is "no aspect of that housing crisis that is not improved by building many more homes across the country".
He went on: "What we're announcing today is a strategic release of some greenbelt land in order to meet housing need across the country."
Despite the government's claim it is "protecting every inch" of the green belt, he said it is releasing land, but in "an inconsistent and haphazard manner".
"Labour is saying there's a smarter way to do this when we have to release greenbelt land to meet local housing targets, we can ensure we're releasing the right parts of the green belt," Mr Pennycook says.
"So low quality grey belt land in the green belt. Disused petrol stations. Abandoned car parks.
"And when that is released, we can ensure through our golden rules that the development that takes place on it does meet local housing with high rates of affordable housing, first class infrastructure and amenities, and access to local green space."
He rejected suggestions of a potential backlash from environmental groups, saying the move is backed by Natural England, for example.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was out on a visit this morning visiting a housing development in the East Midlands.
He told broadcasters: "Having a secure roof over your head is one of the dreams of so many people across the country.
"Because it's a base camp, if you like. For life, for security, for everything they want to achieve."
The site he visited was "derelict", he said, and is now being developed, and he said: "We want to see more of that."