This bill was submitted by Alan Z. H. Chiang MP, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, with amendments by Zach Henderson MP, the Rt Hon. Dame Ashley K. Fletcher MP, the Rt Hon. Dafydd Llwyd MP, Dustin Crowe MP, the Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Clack OOBC, Baron Milton Keynes, Arfamis MP, and Their Grace Ser Marijn Hoyle KOBC PC MP, Dux van Hoorn.

This bill underwent a report stage in the Commons on 2019-10-06, a committee stage in the Lords on 2019-10-25 to 2019-10-26, another report stage in the Commons on 2019-11-16, and another committee stage in the Lords on 2019-12-08

Green Belt Reform Bill

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Definition of "agricultural land"

1. Land is recognized as being agricultural if:
   1. It is being used primarily for the purpose of raising crops meant to be harvested or left fallow.
   2. It does not have a substantial level of biodiversity.
2. Land is "biodiverse" if it is determined to be a habitat for a significant variety of native wild species. Land is considered "biodiverse" if, after data collection and assessment by experts in ecology, its species or genetic biodiversity index is significant as decided by members of the panel.
1. A significant variety is defined as having more than one-third of the following animals:
1. Rodents, consisting of multiple of the following:
   1. Beavers
   2. Voles
   3. Mice
   4. Rats
   5. Dormice
   6. Squirrels
2. One or both of the following:
   1. Hares
   2. Rabbits
3. One or more of the following:
   1. Moles
   2. Shrews
   3. Hedgehog
4. Bats
5. Carnivorans, consisting of multiple of the following:
   1. Foxes
   2. Martens
   3. Weasels
   4. Otters
   5. Badgers
6. One or both of the following:
   1. Boars
   2. Deer
(Amendments A and C)

2 Definition of "transit zone"

1. A "transit zone" is the area of land that is within 2 km of a transit stop. determined by a panel of experts around a specific transit stop, to be determined on a case by case basis. (Lords Amendment B)
2. A "transit stop" can be a
1. Tube station
2. Rail station
3. Tram stop

3 Removal of Green Belt restrictions

1. Ordinances restricting construction of residential and commercial buildings shall be lifted on agricultural land within transit zones.
2. Upon passage of this law, the Secretary of State shall undertake a survey of all existing transit zones and determine which land within the transit zones are agricultural, and thus designated for a trial community to may have restrictions lifted, by consulting a panel of experts.
3. Upon the completion of a new transit stop, the Secretary shall undertake a survey of its corresponding transit zone, consulting a panel of experts, and determine which areas in the new transit zone may have restrictions lifted.
4. Upon completion of the initial survey, the Secretary of State shall make public a map of areas for which restrictions could be may be lifted.
5. The Secretary shall update the map with further areas where restrictions have been may be lifted upon the completion of subsequent surveys.
6. Upon the completion of a survey, the Secretary of State shall send reports to the local councils and planning authorities detailing which areas in their jurisdiction they recommend to have restrictions lifted. The local authority must approve or reject the Secretary of State's proposal within 30 days of receiving the report.
   1. If the local authority approves the proposal, the land designated by the report shall have restrictions on residential and commercial businesses lifted.
   2. If the local authority rejects the proposal, the Secretary of State may bring an amended proposal to the local authority for approval, which the local authority must approve or reject within 30 days of receiving said proposal.
7. Restrictions will be lifted in a single trial area only, and the Secertary shall make further recommendations to lift restrictions in other areas.
8. This single trial area shall last for five years before further restrictions can be lifted at the discrection of the Secretary.

4 Qualifications and Appointment of Members of the Panel

1. It is suggested that the people who are selected for the panel will be members of authority that have degrees in Ecology and Environmental Studies Ecology, Environmental Studies, Transit, and Urban Planning (Lords Amendment B), and are from all areas of society.
2. The Secretary shall have discretion to determine how many experts are needed for the panel to promptly complete its work.
3. The members of the panel must first be sourced from the scientific staff currently employed by the civil service.
4. If the Secretary determines that they are unable to source a sufficient number of experts internally, they may hire outside experts for the task.
5. Outside experts hired for the panel shall be compensated at Staff Grade 4.
6. Experts hired from within the civil service shall be compensated at their previous grade if the previous grade was Staff Grade 4 or higher. They shall be compensated at Staff Grade 4 if their previous grade was lower.

5 Housing Restrictions in New Developments

1. There can be no low density housing or factories developed in the areas of the Green Belt.
   1. Low density housing is defined as being below 30 dwellings/hectare.
   2. Factories are defined as places that manufacture goods that are made via unskilled labour, via automation or by more than five people.
2. These new developments will be encouraged to be Car Free Zones, with incentives mandated by the Secretary of State at their discretion.
1. All houses constructed in this new development shall be barred from having a driveway. (Lords Amendment A)
3. All developments must have plans for local community centres and recreational activities.
4. All developments must have a working plan for sustainable energy use and a report on minimising carbon emissions.
5. A panel of experts will be formed to implement Housing Restrictions in the New Developments to promote sustainability, minimal carbon emissions, and ways to ensure the development has net negative or net neutral effect on carbon emissions and carbon capture over the current status of extant Green Belt land.
6. The panel shall consist of those who have obtained Doctorates of Philosophy in their respective fields, and have work experience in said fields.
7. The panel must include, but not be limited to, those in the field of climate science, ecology, engineering, urban development, infrastructure, and transportation.
8. The panel shall be selected by the Secretary of State, who shall determine the number thereof, and the members of the panel must first be sourced from the staff currently employed by the civil service.
9. If the Secretary determines that they are unable to source a sufficient number of experts internally, they may hire outside experts for the task.
10. Outside experts hired for the panel shall be compensated at Staff Grade 4.
11. Experts hired from within the civil service shall be compensated at their previous grade if the previous grade was Staff Grade 4 or higher. They shall be compensated at Staff Grade 4 if their previous grade was lower.
12. The ground floor of all buildings constructed in these new developments must be reserved for commercial or residential development, with a density of commercial establishments being at least 25% of all ground floor construction.

8 Short title, commencement and extent

1. This Act may be cited as the Green Belt Reform Act 2019 2020. (Lords Amendment F)
2. The Act comes into force on royal assent.
3. This Act extends to the whole United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.