New hope has been offered to those fighting greenfield housing plans.

The Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and the Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis have spoken out saying that there are thousands of brownfield sites available for development, and they should be prioritised.

The Department for Communities and Local Government has published new guidelines on the National Planning Policy Framework, emphasising that councils should use the protections within the National Planning Policy Framework to safeguard their local area against urban sprawl and protect the green lungs around towns and cities.

Mr Pickles said: “This government has been very clear that when planning for new buildings, protecting our precious green belt must be paramount. Local people don’t want to lose their countryside to urban sprawl, or see the vital green lungs around their towns and cities to unnecessary development.”

Mr Lewis said: “We have put Local Plans at the heart of the reformed, planning system, so councils and local people can now decide where development should and shouldn’t go.

“Councils should consider how they will protect and preserve important sites in their area, especially green belt sites. Other considerations include sites of special scientific interest, areas of outstanding natural beauty, heritage coastline, national parks and the Broads.”

The new guidance emphasises that although local planning authorities should attempt to meet their objectively assessed needs, development could be restricted by other policies including:

birds and habitats directives

sites of special scientific interest

land designated as green belt

local green space

an area of outstanding natural beauty

designated heritage assets

locations at risk of flooding

This Thursday, the Maidstone council is due to consider an application for a new industrial and office development on agricultural land at Waterside Park, near junction 8 of the M20, which will impact on the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It is also due to consider a planning application for housing on Marden Cricket and Hockey Club, a green space within the village.