Green Belt Under Threat: 3,000 Residents Challenge Reform-Led Durham Council Over Housing Fears..
Green Belt Battle Erupts in County Durham Village, as Thousands Oppose Potential Housing Development Near Chester-le-Street...
25th October 2026
More than 3,000 people have backed a campaign to protect green belt land surrounding a County Durham village, amid growing concerns that fields could eventually be opened up for housing development under a review of the county's planning policies.
The petition, organised by The County Durham Liberal Democrats, has now been formally submitted to Durham County Council, with campaigners demanding assurances that the countryside surrounding Picktree Village, near Chester-le-Street, will be protected from future development.
The controversy follows the publication of potential development sites submitted through the council's Call for Sites exercise, which forms part of preparations for a new County Durham Plan.
Although no decisions have been made about which sites might eventually be allocated for housing, the inclusion of land surrounding Picktree Village has prompted considerable opposition, with residents fearing that allowing development across the surrounding fields could permanently alter the character of the village, potentially creating an extensive spread of housing between neighbouring communities.
Liberal Democrats Challenge Reform Leadership Over Green Belt
Liberal Democrat County Councillor for North Lodge, Craig Martin, has criticised the Reform UK-led administration over the publication of potential development sites across County Durham.
Cllr Martin said:
"People care deeply about Picktree Village and the green spaces that surround it. More than 3,000 residents have now signed this petition because they do not want to see developers given the green light to build over fields that are an important part of our local environment and identity.
"It's ridiculous that Reform Party leaders have published a list of so many potential development sites across County Durham, including Picktree Village's greenbelt. Local people are sending a clear message that they want these areas protected."
Fears The Village Could Lose Its Identity
Concerns over Picktree Village have already been raised at parish council level, where, According to the Liberal Democrat group's statement, minutes from a July 2026 meeting of North Lodge Parish Council recorded concerns about suggestions that fields surrounding the village could be considered for development.
The prospect has reportedly raised fears that substantial housebuilding could erode the village's rural setting and contribute to neighbouring settlements gradually merging into one continuous built-up area.
Green Belt policy is intended, among other purposes, to prevent urban sprawl and help maintain separation between settlements.
'Build Affordable Homes, But Not at Any Cost'
Despite opposing development on green belt land, the Liberal Democrats insist they are not against providing additional housing.
Instead, they argue that Durham Council should prioritise previously developed brownfield sites and investigate why existing planning permissions have not resulted in new homes being delivered.
Cllr Martin said:
"We need more affordable and social housing, but it should be delivered in the right places. There are already thousands of homes across County Durham with planning permission that have not been built."
He called for greater emphasis on brownfield regeneration rather than releasing countryside for development.
The councillor also wants the authority to make an early commitment to protecting Picktree Village and other valued green spaces from being allocated for future housing.
Labour MP Also Raises Concerns
The campaign has received support from North Durham Labour MP Luke Akehurst, who has highlighted the importance of retaining effective Green Belt protections within the new County Durham Plan.
Mr Akehurst said that several constituents had contacted him regarding the Green Belt review and the council's scoping consultation, with Mr Akehurst explaining that Green Belt land plays an important role in managing development pressures from the north and maintaining separation between distinct communities.
The MP also expressed concern about the possibility of the new County Durham Plan failing to include a specific Green Belt policy.
He said:
"I strongly believe that a Green Belt policy should remain a key component of the County Durham Plan and that there should be clear, comprehensive and accessible consultation with residents before any changes are made."
Durham County Council is said to be in the process of preparing a replacement County Durham Plan, which will influence future decisions regarding housing, employment, infrastructure and environmental protection across the county.
The initial scoping consultation ran between 22 June and 17 August 2026, with further stages of public consultation said to be expected as the plan develops.
Nevertheless, campaigners believe the early stages are precisely when communities must make their opposition known, as more than 3,000 signatures have now been collected, with the Liberal Democrats now calling on Durham County Council's leadership to provide residents with a clear commitment that the Green Belt surrounding Picktree Village will remain protected.
