PLANNING minister Richard Caborn has announced plans to restrict housing developments on greenfield land.

Under the terms of new government planning guidance, local authorities will be able to release greenfield sites for development only if no suitable brownfield or recycled land is available.

The plans are contained in a revised version of the government's Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing, which was put out for consultation this week before a final note is published later this year.

The consultation period ends on 28 May.