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What is the Green Belt?
The Green Belt is a specially designated area of countryside protected from most forms of development. The designated land is protected to help stop urban sprawl, preserve the character of existing settlements and encourage development within existing built-up areas. The size of the Green Belt has more than doubled since 1979 - from 721,500 hectares to 1,634,700 hectares. This is approximately 13% of England and covers one and a half times as much land as our towns and cities added together. In July 2018, the government published updated guidance in the form of the 2nd version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Chapter 13 aims to protect Green Belt land and outlines the policy and guidelines surrounding this matter. Is my land Green Belt? The map below provides a view of Green Belt land in England. You can use the post code search feature or scroll to show whether land sits in or near Green Belt. Green Belt land is shown in green. There are a number of other constraints to planning such as flood zones and national parks, but the purpose of this page is to focus on Green Belt. |
What is the purpose of the Green Belt?
Green Belt is protected from development and is designated around certain cities and large built up areas. Paragraph 134 of the NPPF sets out the five aims:
How does land get released from the Green Belt?
Paragraph 145 of the NPPF states that “inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances.” Therefore, the construction of any most new buildings would be considered inappropriate development on Green Belts, unless such buildings are within the list set out in paragraph 145.
To have any chance of progressing any form of development not on this list, it is necessary to submit a case for “very special circumstances” that must outweigh the resulting harm to Green Belt land and other planning considerations (such as landscape impact, traffic etc etc).
But it can be done! Given the growing demand for housing around cities and the growing targets for housing development within regions, some local authorities are finding that releasing Green Belt land is the only way to meet housing needs. The key to securing planning permission is to promote land through the plan process such that a site is added to the local plan as part of the housing growth strategy. However, it must be noted that promoting Green Belt land takes expertise in planning and is not a fast process often with a 5-15 year time frame. Please see our Strategic Land projects for examples.
There are a number of design websites and forums who promote the notion that buildings of exceptional design standard have an elevated chance of success in the Green Belt based on an interpretation of Paragraph 78 (formerly Para 55). This is in most cases a misguided conclusion, and people are urged to seek town planning advice prior to engaging the services of an Architect if the site is within the Green Belt.
In summary, the Green Belt doesn't exclude you from using your permitted development rights. However, Listed Buildings, flats and maisonettes are excluded from the scheme. Being in a Green Belt can create more caveat's for your project. When buying, selling or altering land you must seek planning advice, even seemingly innocuous changes such as altering the levels or land contouring could constitute inappropriate development. If you have any questions about Green Belt land, please do get in touch to discuss the opportunities with us.
Green Belt is protected from development and is designated around certain cities and large built up areas. Paragraph 134 of the NPPF sets out the five aims:
- To avoid unplanned sprawl of towns and cities
- To prevent towns from merging
- To protect the countryside for its own sake
- To preserve historic towns
- To assist in the recycling of brownfield land
How does land get released from the Green Belt?
Paragraph 145 of the NPPF states that “inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances.” Therefore, the construction of any most new buildings would be considered inappropriate development on Green Belts, unless such buildings are within the list set out in paragraph 145.
To have any chance of progressing any form of development not on this list, it is necessary to submit a case for “very special circumstances” that must outweigh the resulting harm to Green Belt land and other planning considerations (such as landscape impact, traffic etc etc).
But it can be done! Given the growing demand for housing around cities and the growing targets for housing development within regions, some local authorities are finding that releasing Green Belt land is the only way to meet housing needs. The key to securing planning permission is to promote land through the plan process such that a site is added to the local plan as part of the housing growth strategy. However, it must be noted that promoting Green Belt land takes expertise in planning and is not a fast process often with a 5-15 year time frame. Please see our Strategic Land projects for examples.
There are a number of design websites and forums who promote the notion that buildings of exceptional design standard have an elevated chance of success in the Green Belt based on an interpretation of Paragraph 78 (formerly Para 55). This is in most cases a misguided conclusion, and people are urged to seek town planning advice prior to engaging the services of an Architect if the site is within the Green Belt.
In summary, the Green Belt doesn't exclude you from using your permitted development rights. However, Listed Buildings, flats and maisonettes are excluded from the scheme. Being in a Green Belt can create more caveat's for your project. When buying, selling or altering land you must seek planning advice, even seemingly innocuous changes such as altering the levels or land contouring could constitute inappropriate development. If you have any questions about Green Belt land, please do get in touch to discuss the opportunities with us.