The case,
made clear.

Rural ROAR is a national campaign bringing rural parish councils and residents together through the Rural Alliance for Planning Change. Its three consistent demands are to suspend the flawed grey-belt test for villages, reform the test so countryside encroachment and villages are properly assessed, and devolve real planning power to qualifying parish councils.

Under the current National Planning Policy Framework, grey belt includes previously developed Green Belt land and other Green Belt land that does not strongly contribute to purposes A, B or D. It is not necessarily grey, derelict or brownfield.

The detailed A, B and D tests concern large built-up areas, towns and historic towns. AECOM’s Guildford report says villages are not considered for assessment under those purposes. Purpose C—safeguarding the countryside from encroachment—is one of the five Green Belt purposes, but it is left out of grey-belt identification.

The updated NPPF removed the Footnote 7 exclusion for heritage, habitat, landscape and flood-risk constraints from the grey-belt definition, widening the land capable of being labelled grey belt.

AECOM’s Table 3-4 found that 551 of 575 assessment areas—95.8%, rounded to 96%—did not strongly contribute to purposes A, B or D. Those purposes now form the core national test. The practical effect is already visible: the first national study found that 16 of 20 major residential grey-belt appeals were allowed.

No. The campaign supports well-designed homes, including genuinely affordable homes, in sustainable locations with the infrastructure needed to support them. It supports plan-led growth and asks government to honour the sites and choices communities have already approved through Neighbourhood Plans.

Suspend the grey-belt test as applied to villages. Reform it so villages are included in the tests for sprawl, merging and historic setting, with Purpose C decisive for countryside encroachment. Devolve statutory call-in and decision-making power to qualifying parish councils where applications materially conflict with made Neighbourhood Plans.

They are the elected bodies closest to rural communities. They already review local applications and hold detailed knowledge of roads, drainage, landscape, services and community priorities, but they are consultees rather than decision makers. Rural ROAR argues that devolution should reach the closest democratic tier.

A made Neighbourhood Plan forms part of the statutory development plan, so it is more than advice. But it can still be outweighed by other material considerations. Rural ROAR wants referendum-backed plans upheld and proposes a new parish call-in power where an application materially conflicts with one.

Ask the council to adopt the detailed model motion, adapt Effingham Parish Council’s founding resolution or write its own declaration. After adoption, email the signed resolution, approved minutes or official council link to jointheroar@ruralroar.org.uk so it can be acknowledged, verified and added to the public record.

Use the official Parliament service to find your MP, personalise the Rural ROAR template letter and ask them to support suspension, reform and devolution. You can also join the newsletter, follow the campaign on X and encourage your parish council to debate a resolution.

No. It is a peaceful, lawful and democratic campaign. It challenges policies and decisions, not individuals, and welcomes support from rural communities and elected representatives across political parties.