LABOUR councillors in South Gloucestershire believe government rules have placed the district's green belt in danger following a recent planning appeal decision in Charfield.

Last week an inspector from the central government planning service overturned South Gloucestershire Council’s rejection of an outline planning bid for up to 106 houses near Charfield.

The inspector made clear that the national planning framework has an in-built presumption in favour of development if the local planning authority cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites.

The council believed that it had demonstrated this supply, so Labour councillors have asked officers of the authority how the council will respond to this judgement, which they say could have far-reaching implications.

Councillor Roger Hutchinson (Labour, Filton), who leads on planning issues for Labour, said:

“South Gloucestershire’s officers and councillors have worked tirelessly to demonstrate that we have a five-year land supply. We have jumped through every hoop required of us to meet this rule, and we should be allowed to direct developments where we - on behalf of our communities - feel they are most appropriate.

“This appeal judgement based on Conservative national policy has the potential to give a green light to housing developers to build where they like.

“The council is under greater pressure than ever to deliver housing growth, and with central government inspectors taking these decisions for us our greenbelt is being put at a heightened risk of development”