JOHN PRESCOTT, the deputy prime minister, has given the go-ahead to one of the largest building programmes ever to be allowed in the green belt.

The decision to build 3,600 homes and businesses around Stevenage, Hertfordshire, has infuriated environmentalists and residents, who have been campaigning against the plan for a decade.

They say that such decisions undermine the entire system of green belt designation which is meant to protect countryside in perpetuity.

Stevenage council, however, is delighted at Prescott’s decision. The council argues that the town, which has a population of 80,000, is suffering acute shortages of both social housing and larger executive homes.

In a letter released this weekend, Prescott confirms his approval. He also says that a second application, for another 5,000 homes and businesses, should be deferred — meaning that it will be considered for approval again after 2011.

In 2003 he told a conference: “I am giving a guarantee to maintain or increase green belt land in every region of England.”

In the letter Prescott says that he accepts that the Stevenage development is “in direct conflict with the aim of green belt policy”. It goes on: “There is also harm to the openness, rural character and purposes of the green belt.”

It adds, however, that such considerations are outweighed by the need for new housing in the area.

The decision follows a public inquiry in 2004 which heard that Hertfordshire county council and North Hertfordshire district council both objected to the scheme. Another 3,000 people objected individually.

Tim Akeroyd, chairman of the Campaign Against Stevenage Expansion, said he felt “bitterly let down”. He said his group would consider going to the High Court in an attempt to have the decision set aside.

However, the leader of Stevenage council dismissed opponents of the building as “Luddites”. Brian Hall said: “We require 800 extra homes a year to support our existing population. Most of the people who say ‘Don’t build on the countryside’ live in the countryside themselves.”

Barbara Follett, Labour MP for Stevenage, agreed. “Stevenage needs to grow. It needs to reach the critical mass needed to attract decent shops and businesses,” she said.

Such battles are nothing new to Stevenage. Few traces of its 1,000-year history remain since its post-war designation as one of 10 new towns taking the overspill from London.Then, as now, local residents fought bitterly against the development plans but were overruled by ministers.

There were more battles over the proposed A1(M) motorway just west of the town, but again locals were overruled and the road opened in 1962. They were, however, given a promise that land to the west of the new road would be protected for ever by granting it green belt status. It is this pledge that Prescott has now broken.

Henry Oliver, head of planning at the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: “Our worry is that this is only the beginning. Prescott’s plans for massive growth across southeast England mean other green belts could go the same way.”

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