We have been speculating for several years about what the Government really thinks about the Green Belt around Oxford and the scale of housing that is required in the region.

Ministers have delivered several messages to the South East England Regional Assembly over that time that have led us to suspect that it wants to see more homes and, indeed, that some Green Belt development may be required.

Its colours have now been nailed to the mast after the Government Office of the South East published its representations to the forthcoming Examination in Public.

It clearly wants the panel to look at whether the rate of housing development should be increased and whether there should be a review of the Green Belt around Oxford.

There are many who will welcome this, particularly Oxford City Council which has argued that some Green Belt development is appropriate to relieve housing pressure in the city.

It was always going to be a matter for debate at the examination in public and it is right that it should be.

A review of the Green Belt is not necessarily something we should fear, particularly if it is undertaken locally with full consultation. Government policy is that we should increase the amount of land that is protected by Green Belt designation.

Of course, in increasing the total amount of Green Belt land, a review could still mean some existing areas of Green Belt will be lost. It is a nettle Oxfordshire may soon be asked to grab.