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A House of Lords committee has launched an inquiry into the government鈥檚 plans to increase development on 鈥減oor-quality鈥� green belt land.

The House of Lords Built Environment Committee is asking for submissions answering several questions about Labour鈥檚 definition of the 鈥榞rey belt鈥� and the contribution it could make to housing delivery.

The new Labour government鈥檚 revised National Planning Policy Framework says councils, where needed to meet housing demand, should undertake a green belt review. They will be required to look to release 鈥榩oor quality鈥� land from the green belt, which ministers term 鈥榞rey belt鈥�.

The NPPF defines grey belt land as green belt land that only makes a 鈥渓imited contribution鈥� to five green belt purposes, such as checking sprawl, safeguarding countryside and preserving the special character of towns.

Peers will also examine the government鈥檚 鈥済olden rules鈥� for green belt development, which include improvements to infrastructure, provision of open space and a requirement for at least 50% affordable housing subject to viability.

Housebuilder Barratt said last month it has pulled four planning applications over concerns about the affordable housing rule.

>>See also: The ins and outs of Labour鈥檚 new National Planning Policy Framework

Lord Moylan, chair of the House of Lords Built Environment Committee, said: 鈥淔inding enough land for new housing will be key to whether the Government can achieve its housing targets. Designating some green belt land as grey belt may help it to do that.

鈥淥ur inquiry will look at how the government and local authorities might identify grey belt areas thought suitable for development and how to ensure new homes are supported by the necessary infrastructure and local amenities.

鈥淭o inform our work we want to hear from as broad a range of people as possible.鈥�