The green spaces of Meriden and Solihull East are more than scenic backdrops to daily life. They are places where families walk and talk, where children first discover nature, and where wildlife continues to thrive alongside our communities. At a time when these cherished landscapes face growing pressure, protecting them has never been more important, and neither has inspiring the next generation to take up that responsibility. As Sir Roger Scruton once wrote, “environmentalism is the quintessential conservative cause.”
When I was elected as Meriden and Solihull East MP, I made a clear promise to stand up for our countryside and protect the greenbelt that defines our area. That promise matters now more than ever. Across the country, ambitious national housebuilding targets including Labour’s goal of delivering 1.5million homes by 2029 are placing unprecedented strain on local planning systems. Too often, speculative development seeks to exploit loopholes and unclear definitions, putting land that should remain protected at risk.
Our greenbelt is not just undeveloped land waiting to be built on. It is part of who we are. It provides breathing space between towns and villages, supports biodiversity, and offers people the chance to reconnect with the natural world. This is why I fight for the Meriden Gap, the lungs of the West Midlands and essential to the biodiversity of the United Kingdom. Once lost, these spaces cannot simply be replaced somewhere else.
One of the biggest current concerns is Labour’s vague introduction of the so-called “grey belt” within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Without a clear definition, large areas of greenspace including much of Solihull’s existing greenbelt could be reclassified and opened to development. That uncertainty threatens the long-term sustainability of our communities and undermines public confidence in the planning system. These fears were exacerbated in December when the government updated its NPPF to further entrench the top-down decisions being imposed on rural areas. This late change by the government puts at risk any villages which have or are close to train stations, putting huge swathes of our greenbelt at risk.
We need a smarter, fairer approach. That means prioritising brownfield land previously developed sites that are crying out for regeneration, before even considering building on green spaces. It also means recognising that Meriden and Solihull East have already shouldered significant infrastructure burdens, including the loss of greenspace to projects such as HS2. Any future decisions must take that history into account.
Our greenbelt is not a barrier to progress; it is the foundation of a healthier, more balanced future. By standing firm today and encouraging the next generation to do the same, we can ensure our landscapes remain protected for generations to come.
