Village Green Laws 'Abused' To Prevent Affordable Housing Plans

NIMBYs are using a Victorian "village green" law to block any attempts to build new homes in their village – in a tactic that is costing taxpayers millions of pounds in red tape and delaying new affordable housing schemes for several years.

Individuals fiercely opposed to any new building in their rural community have frustrated not-for-profit housing charities/builders across the country by claiming land due to be developed on should be reclassified as a village green and protected from development.

But far from being at the heart of community life, the "village green" is often no more than an isolated agricultural field, which has rarely attracted a single dog walker, according to the National Housing Federation.

The situation is made even more ludicrous by the fact the land is often privately owned – and those claiming village green status would have been guilty of trespassing if they had, as they claim, enjoyed using it for leisure.


The delaying tactic – which is used after planning permission has already been given for housing developments – is hugely costly both in monetary terms and in the time wasted in dealing with the spurious application, which stands no realistic chance of being accepted.

The Federation said it was unacceptable local people in desperate need of an affordable house in many areas of rural England were left in limbo as a result of the nimbys’ time wasting tactic – not knowing when or if new developments would ever get built.

In the Peak District, plans to build 600 new affordable homes have been put on hold for over two years after around 20 "bogus" village green applications were made by opponents of the schemes – in a clear attempt to derail the process.

The situation has become so desperate for High Peak district council – who own the land - that it has enlisted the help of local MP Tom Levitt, who has pushed for a change in the law to prevent the tactic being used elsewhere.

Federation Chief Executive David Orr said: "Village greens play an important part in community life in many villages and towns, and genuine greens need the full protection of the law.

"However, increasing numbers of people are submitting inappropriate village green applications in a cynical attempt to stop the building of new homes – sometimes delaying the delivery of desperately needed new housing by years and wasting millions of pounds of pounds of taxpayers money in the process."

(CD/GK)