‘Village green’ tactics delay homes

The Local Government Association (LGA) said planning rules were being exploited, with “vexatious” claims hitting taxpayers and preventing new affordable housing and job creation.

Campaigners can argue any piece of land is the village green if they claim it has been used for sport or recreation for over 20 years, said the LGA.

Councils are keen to protect genuine village greens and pieces of community land, but a high proportion of applications are simply used as delaying tactics to prevent new affordable housing, claimed the report.

Recent cases included a site proposed for “village green” status in St Austell, Cornwall, which included beach huts and a car park.

David Parsons, of the LGA, said: “Councils are keen to protect genuine village greens and community land in their neighbourhoods. However, the idea that a beach hut or car park constitutes a village green is clearly ridiculous.”