Chris Packham has taken aim at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)
Chris Packham has backed a campaign to stop the government from building on green belt amid its plans to turbocharge housebuilding.
He has endorsed a report which warns the countryside is at “grave risk” from ministers “hellbent” on achieving “sky-high” targets.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Kier - this is utterly ridiculous! Bin your pointless lists and do some governing
273 Comments
UK seaside town most famous for giant port to get huge ￡500million boost
8 Comments
Keir Starmer warned taxpayers must not bear cost of 'failed tactic' of nationalisation
62 Comments
Tiny island that's one of the richest in the world - and had 'no fresh water' 60 years ago
5 Comments
The AA calls for Rachel Reeves to use 'permanent methods' on potholes to fix roads
7 Comments
Keir Starmer calls press conference for major announcement at 10.45am today
1170 Comments
More than 300 tractors to descend on Westminster to protest against 'stalinist' Government
8 Comments
Social care providers could take strike action over Labour's tax-grabbing Budget impact
2 Comments
Keir Starmer's shiny new plan has big problem - why won't he give Brits 1 thing they want
210 Comments
Labour to renationalise three UK rail firms in huge move - but not everyone is happy
100 Comments
'Sick kids will pay price!' Labour's disastrous NI hike to cripple children's hospices
483 Comments
Rachel Reeves's crippling tax hikes put hospices on the brink
20 Comments
Awkward moment for Keir Starmer as BBC Breakfast host asks: ‘Why are you so unpopular?'
896 Comments
Huge boost to African country handed ￡539m for trains and airports
8 Comments
Labour slammed for prioritising union pay rises over public safety as criminals rejoice
74 Comments
Beautiful European country named the best place in the world to live as an expat
3 Comments
Angela Rayner just made a mistake so jaw dropping it shows Labour are taking us for fools
556 Comments
Pretty European village that looks like a fairytale will pay you ￡18,000 to relocate
1 Comments
The UK city set for huge transformation thanks to incredible ￡19m revamp
5 Comments
The medieval UK city set to be transformed in ￡2 billion project
5 Comments
Kier - this is utterly ridiculous! Bin your pointless lists and do some governing
273 Comments
UK seaside town most famous for giant port to get huge ￡500million boost
8 Comments
Keir Starmer warned taxpayers must not bear cost of 'failed tactic' of nationalisation
62 Comments
Tiny island that's one of the richest in the world - and had 'no fresh water' 60 years ago
5 Comments
The AA calls for Rachel Reeves to use 'permanent methods' on potholes to fix roads
7 Comments
Keir Starmer calls press conference for major announcement at 10.45am today
1170 Comments
More than 300 tractors to descend on Westminster to protest against 'stalinist' Government
8 Comments
Social care providers could take strike action over Labour's tax-grabbing Budget impact
2 Comments
Keir Starmer's shiny new plan has big problem - why won't he give Brits 1 thing they want
210 Comments
Labour to renationalise three UK rail firms in huge move - but not everyone is happy
100 Comments
'Sick kids will pay price!' Labour's disastrous NI hike to cripple children's hospices
483 Comments
Rachel Reeves's crippling tax hikes put hospices on the brink
20 Comments
Awkward moment for Keir Starmer as BBC Breakfast host asks: ‘Why are you so unpopular?'
896 Comments
Huge boost to African country handed ￡539m for trains and airports
8 Comments
Labour slammed for prioritising union pay rises over public safety as criminals rejoice
74 Comments
Beautiful European country named the best place in the world to live as an expat
3 Comments
Angela Rayner just made a mistake so jaw dropping it shows Labour are taking us for fools
556 Comments
Pretty European village that looks like a fairytale will pay you ￡18,000 to relocate
1 Comments
The UK city set for huge transformation thanks to incredible ￡19m revamp
5 Comments
The medieval UK city set to be transformed in ￡2 billion project
5 Comments
Kier - this is utterly ridiculous! Bin your pointless lists and do some governing
273 Comments
UK seaside town most famous for giant port to get huge ￡500million boost
8 Comments
Keir Starmer warned taxpayers must not bear cost of 'failed tactic' of nationalisation
62 Comments
Tiny island that's one of the richest in the world - and had 'no fresh water' 60 years ago
5 Comments
The AA calls for Rachel Reeves to use 'permanent methods' on potholes to fix roads
7 Comments
Keir Starmer calls press conference for major announcement at 10.45am today
1170 Comments
More than 300 tractors to descend on Westminster to protest against 'stalinist' Government
8 Comments
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer pledged to construct 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament.
Broadcaster Chris said: “Labour’s plans to make it any easier to build on the green belt will face strong opposition. Building on the Green Belt is going to create a hell of a furore.
"The green belt is incredibly important, it was designed to stop urban sprawl and enhance the quality of people’s lives. That’s something we will jealously protect.
“But more importantly, we don’t need to build on the Green Belt, nor even green fields in order to solve the housing crisis.”
READ MORE: Angela Rayner humiliated as councils say plan to build 1.5m homes is impossible
He added: “This isn’t about being a ‘Not In My Back Yard’ NIMBY. It’s about being a ‘Nature In My Back Yard’ NIMBY, however small that yard may be.”
The Community Planning Alliance’s (CPA) analysis suggested no green space needs to be lost to housing, pointing to the millions of homes available on brownfield land, as well as in empty, derelict houses and commercial buildings.
Seven in 10 people (69%)support a “brownfield-first” policy with just 6% opposing it, polling by More in Common showed.
At least 78% of people believe it is important for the government’s housebuilding strategy to protect nature and green spaces while only 4% believe the opposite.
Rosie Pearson, co-founder of the Community Planning Alliance (CPA), added: “This is a litmus test for the new Labour government which, despite being hellbent on hitting its sky-high, developer-led housing targets, must not sacrifice the environment.
“The vast majority of UK voters believe it’s important to protect nature and green spaces, which should be a last resort only for housebuilding.
Trending
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
“Our ‘Homes for Everyone’ report demonstrates that there are clear ways to meet housing needs without destroying the countryside or worsening climate change.”
Under the government's plans, some low-quality green belt land will be freed up to become part of a "grey belt" to allow new homes to be built.
The green belt was established more than 70 years ago and covers about 13% of England.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Kier - this is utterly ridiculous! Bin your pointless lists and do some governing
273 Comments
UK seaside town most famous for giant port to get huge ￡500million boost
8 Comments
Keir Starmer warned taxpayers must not bear cost of 'failed tactic' of nationalisation
62 Comments
Tiny island that's one of the richest in the world - and had 'no fresh water' 60 years ago
5 Comments
The AA calls for Rachel Reeves to use 'permanent methods' on potholes to fix roads
7 Comments
Keir Starmer calls press conference for major announcement at 10.45am today
1170 Comments
More than 300 tractors to descend on Westminster to protest against 'stalinist' Government
8 Comments
Social care providers could take strike action over Labour's tax-grabbing Budget impact
2 Comments
Keir Starmer's shiny new plan has big problem - why won't he give Brits 1 thing they want
210 Comments
Labour to renationalise three UK rail firms in huge move - but not everyone is happy
100 Comments
'Sick kids will pay price!' Labour's disastrous NI hike to cripple children's hospices
483 Comments
Rachel Reeves's crippling tax hikes put hospices on the brink
20 Comments
Awkward moment for Keir Starmer as BBC Breakfast host asks: ‘Why are you so unpopular?'
896 Comments
Huge boost to African country handed ￡539m for trains and airports
8 Comments
Labour slammed for prioritising union pay rises over public safety as criminals rejoice
74 Comments
Beautiful European country named the best place in the world to live as an expat
3 Comments
Angela Rayner just made a mistake so jaw dropping it shows Labour are taking us for fools
556 Comments
Pretty European village that looks like a fairytale will pay you ￡18,000 to relocate
1 Comments
The UK city set for huge transformation thanks to incredible ￡19m revamp
5 Comments
The medieval UK city set to be transformed in ￡2 billion project
5 Comments
Kier - this is utterly ridiculous! Bin your pointless lists and do some governing
273 Comments
UK seaside town most famous for giant port to get huge ￡500million boost
8 Comments
Keir Starmer warned taxpayers must not bear cost of 'failed tactic' of nationalisation
62 Comments
Tiny island that's one of the richest in the world - and had 'no fresh water' 60 years ago
5 Comments
The AA calls for Rachel Reeves to use 'permanent methods' on potholes to fix roads
7 Comments
Keir Starmer calls press conference for major announcement at 10.45am today
1170 Comments
More than 300 tractors to descend on Westminster to protest against 'stalinist' Government
8 Comments
Social care providers could take strike action over Labour's tax-grabbing Budget impact
2 Comments
Keir Starmer's shiny new plan has big problem - why won't he give Brits 1 thing they want
210 Comments
Labour to renationalise three UK rail firms in huge move - but not everyone is happy
100 Comments
'Sick kids will pay price!' Labour's disastrous NI hike to cripple children's hospices
483 Comments
Rachel Reeves's crippling tax hikes put hospices on the brink
20 Comments
Awkward moment for Keir Starmer as BBC Breakfast host asks: ‘Why are you so unpopular?'
896 Comments
Huge boost to African country handed ￡539m for trains and airports
8 Comments
Labour slammed for prioritising union pay rises over public safety as criminals rejoice
74 Comments
Beautiful European country named the best place in the world to live as an expat
3 Comments
Angela Rayner just made a mistake so jaw dropping it shows Labour are taking us for fools
556 Comments
Pretty European village that looks like a fairytale will pay you ￡18,000 to relocate
1 Comments
The UK city set for huge transformation thanks to incredible ￡19m revamp
5 Comments
The medieval UK city set to be transformed in ￡2 billion project
5 Comments
Kier - this is utterly ridiculous! Bin your pointless lists and do some governing
273 Comments
UK seaside town most famous for giant port to get huge ￡500million boost
8 Comments
Keir Starmer warned taxpayers must not bear cost of 'failed tactic' of nationalisation
62 Comments
Tiny island that's one of the richest in the world - and had 'no fresh water' 60 years ago
5 Comments
The AA calls for Rachel Reeves to use 'permanent methods' on potholes to fix roads
7 Comments
Keir Starmer calls press conference for major announcement at 10.45am today
1170 Comments
More than 300 tractors to descend on Westminster to protest against 'stalinist' Government
8 Comments
It was designed to limit the growth of large built-up areas, and to stop large towns merging into one another.
A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokeswoman said: “Our ambitious plans to provide the housing we need will not come at the expense of the environment, and we will take a brownfield-first approach to building, so sites which people are desperate to see used will be developed first.
“All areas of the country must play their part in building the homes we need. We expect local authorities to explore all options to deliver the homes their communities need – maximising brownfield land, working with neighbouring authorities, and, where necessary, reviewing green belt.”