Barnet Council objects to Khan's green belt housing targets

Barnet Council has raised substantial objections to London Mayor Sadiq Khan's proposed housing targets, which could see significant development on the borough's green belt land. The draft London Plan, currently under review, outlines a strategy to build 558,000 homes across the capital over the next decade, with individual targets allocated to each London borough.

Under these proposals, Barnet is tasked with providing provision for nearly 33,000 new homes by 2037. A significant portion of this requirement, approximately 7,000 homes, is designated for development on land currently protected as Metropolitan Green Belt. This protected countryside ring is intended to prevent urban sprawl.

Concerns over evidence and green belt release

The council's opposition, detailed in a letter to the Mayor from Neeru Kareer, Barnet's assistant director of planning and building control, centres on two main issues. Firstly, Barnet Council questions the evidential basis for the proposed housing targets. Secondly, it expresses concern about the plan's reliance on releasing substantial areas of green belt land to meet these targets.

The draft London Plan suggests that development on green belt land could be permissible if it meets specific “sustainable location tests”. These tests include proximity to public transport, such as being within 400 metres of a bus route or a 15-minute walk from certain railway stations. Barnet has been identified as having several such stations near potential growth areas containing green belt land.

This pushback from Barnet Council, which is run by a minority Labour administration at Hendon Town Hall, represents a notable instance of internal political disagreement within the capital. The council's cabinet formally signed off on the concerns raised in the letter on Monday. This follows collaborative work by a cross-party joint working group comprising councillors from both Labour and Conservative parties, alongside council officers.

Local and London Plans

The borough's own development strategy, the Barnet Local Plan, was adopted in March 2025. This document sets out specific development targets and the council's intended methods for achieving them. The London Plan, however, is a broader policy framework that guides planning across the entire city, providing direction for individual boroughs to incorporate into their local strategies.

The council had previously voiced its opposition to proposed changes in green belt development policies shortly after the draft London Plan proposals were published in July. At that time, Barnet Council stated that the Mayor did not have the authority to make direct alterations to the borough's Green Belt through the London Plan.

A spokesperson for the Mayor's office stated that the draft London Plan presents a 'bold vision for the capital' and aims to be a blueprint for a fairer, greener, and more prosperous London over the next two decades.