Almost 5,000 acres of green belt have been lost in what has been the largest annual change in green belt boundaries reported in the last five years. Official figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government revealed that Newcastle has lost 9% of its green belt in the past year. Out of the eleven councils to adopt new local plans involving the deletion of green belt, Newcastle has seen the biggest overall percentage reduction. The local papers have not reported on this. But Newcastle City Council's approval of the Woolsington applications show that priorities do not lie with protecting the city's rapidly dwindling green belt. The government report reiterates: "Changes are rare and are the results of new local plans being adopted, which must satisfy the strong tests for protecting green belt land set out in the National Planning Policy Framework." When asked to explain the changes in their green belt boundaries Newcastle and Gateshead Council responded: “The amended boundary was approved as part of the adoption of the 'Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan for Gateshead and Newcastle' adopted on 26 March 2015.” The Woolsington Hall applications, which could see the destruction of a huge area of mature woodland in the city's green belt, were not factored into the Core Strategy. Newcastle City Council appears to have failed to satisfy the 'strong test' as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework for releasing any more green belt land. Will the Department for Communities and Local Government adhere to their own guidance and acknowledge this? We anxiously await a decision.