Charity 'selling' greenbelt land
A charity is helping people to "buy" areas of greenbelt land in order to protect it from development.
A charity is helping people to "buy" areas of greenbelt land in order to protect it from development.
The London-based Charities Advisory Trust is asking people to buy land on its behalf at £25 per 12 sq m.
In return, the charity commits to work with local community groups to preserve the land's protected status, using it for recreation where possible.
But the Campaign to Protect Rural England said it would prefer people to use planning laws to protect land.
The greenbelt land being bought is largely wild or agricultural land near urban areas.
Environmental campaigners prefer developers to build upon derelict brownfield land.
Charities Advisory Trust director Hilary Blume said: "Spurred by greed, but dressed up as need for housing for young families, developers continually threaten the greenbelt."
The charity has asked people to buy plots of land at undisclosed locations threatened by development, via its Good Gifts ethical presents initiative.
The plots will then be protected by an enduring order, so they cannot be sold on for development.
"Our vision is to then, depending on the location, have the land as an asset to the community - as orchards, woodland and play areas," said Ms Blume.
But a spokeswoman for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said: "We think people should actually use the existing planning system to protect greenbelt land, rather than try to buy it one piece at a time."
The CPRE said it was concerned that plots of greenbelt land bought on behalf of charities could fall into disrepair.
Ms Blume said the charity had long-term plans to maintain the plots of land.
She added: "We would also encourage people to fight for the correct enforcement of planning legislation. This is just one more way to protect greenbelt land."
bbc.co.uk, 12.12.2007