The Housing Minister, Esther McVey has committed £2 million to aid councils to "crack down on illegal developments" that are taking place in the green belt.
Councils will be able to use the money by:
The public has shown high interest in keeping the green belt area for future generations to enjoy. McVey has said that 37 different councils are to receive a total of up to £50,000 each to help with their efforts in the clampdown, stating, "Once the green belt is built on it's often gone for good, that's why we are determined to protect it."
The areas with the highest levels of green belt are given the funds needed to punish those who build illegally - this one-off cash boost is coming from the Planning Delivery Fund.
As well as the money, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is teaming up the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) in order to overhaul the national enforcement handbook. This handbook is intended to provide the latest best practice and expertise on shutting down the illegal building and preventing it from happening - with planned updates that will aim to guarantee that the developers obtain full planning permission before the work actually starts.
Neill Whittaker, the chair of the RTPI network, the National Association of Planning Enforcement (NAPE), has said, "The updated handbook will provide guidance on how to deal effectively with a range of challenges and help ensure enforcement officers have access to the latest best practice advice. This will support them in carrying out their roles covering a range of topics, including:
Adding: "The NAPE project team are currently working on the details for the updated handbook and three launch events are due to be held across England in Spring 2020."
