Open petition: Introduce new rules and protections from development in rural green heartlands

Created by Paul Fernbank
Closes on 8 November 2026

We believe that the South West — Devon, Somerset, Dorset, and Cornwall — stands at a breaking point. We are concerned that our cherished green fields, productive farmland, and close-knit rural communities are being swallowed by unchecked urban expansion.

Strengthen the National Planning Policy Framework with these rules for rural areas:
1. Require developers to evidence a genuine local connection (e.g. headquarters or major operations within the county) before reserved matters approval.
2. Mandate full upfront infrastructure funding via Section 106 or Community Infrastructure Levy — no new homes without the services to support them.
3. Review policy and make any necessary changes to ensure best agricultural land (Grades 1–3a) and wider countryside is excluded from the grey belt unless every realistic brownfield alternative is exhausted.

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