10,000 houses in the Green Belt? "I saw no need to intervene"
John Prescott, 26 January 1998.

The Facts behind West of Stevenage Please draw to the attention of Mr Prescott, as he has been incorrectly briefed on this issue.

Mr Prescott has stated that "the presumption against development in the Green Belt will remain as strong as ever". But he is allowing the plan to build 10,000 houses on the Green Belt in Hertfordshire to go ahead because he says it "offers the most sustainable option", and is "the local council's choice" (The Times, 26 January 1998).

Neither of these statements is correct:

It is not sustainable, as all evidence is that it will be a car-dependent development. Will also lead to net inward migration into Hertfordshire, contrary to the aims of the County Structure Plan.

The Labour run local council for the area in question is unanimously opposed to the scheme. It does not even have the formal approval of Hertfordshire County Council, as the Administration has never risked presenting the scheme to the full County Council.

No case has ever been made for a need for 10,000 houses at Stevenage. It cannot be argued that "exceptional circumstances" justify such a massive incursion into Green Belt.

The scheme is for more than any projected shortfall in housing requirements. It is a purely speculative development, far beyond even a policy of 'Predict and Provide'.