A Guide to Green Belts

What exactly is Belt?

Green Belt is a girdle of open space around and between certain urban areas. It is intended to discourage urban sprawl and encourage most efficient use of the land in existing built-up areas. Green Belt is often attractive countryside but this is not essential for it to fulfil its purpose. National planning guidance states that Green Belt should have a degree of permanence and should be altered only in exceptional circumstances. Guidelines on Green Belt policy are laid down in Department of Environment Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 2.

Is development permitted in Green Belt?

Yes. By their nature Green Belts are located in areas highly susceptible to development pressure. There is a general presumption against granting planning permission for most kinds of development, but there are exceptions to this rule.

Is housing development?

Infill or low cost affordable housing may be permitted under a PPG2 exceptions policy where a local rural need has been properly identified. This is normally undertaken by housing associations, working in co-operation with a local authority, following an authoritative survey of local housing needs.

What other developments may be allowed?

Usually only those connected with agriculture and forestry, essential facilities for outdoor sport and out door recreation, cemeteries, and uses which do not conflict with the open nature or purpose of the Green Belt. Mining, quarrying, waste landfill and road construction may also be permitted, as may changes to existing agricultural buildings and institutions set in their own grounds.

Who decides where Green Belt should be?

PPG2 lays down broad areas which are reflected in Regional Planning Guidance and County Structure Plans. Detailed boundaries, usually based on recognisable physical features, are defined in Local and Unitary Development Plans (see our page on The Planning System). Proposed additions to and removals from areas of Green Belt are usually considered only when Regional and lower tier plans are being reviewed and then only in exceptional circumstances.

So most of the countryside not Green Belt?

That’s right. There is a range of other designations which can be used to protect countryside areas for specific reasons, whether or not they are also in the Green Belt. Many local landscape area designations are being phased out in favour of the landscape character area mapping being developed by the Countryside Commission and English Nature. However, one other protective land designation is related to Green Belt. Safeguarded Land, sometimes known as ‘white land’ can be afforded similar protection to Green Belt through a Local Plan policy. This is usually but not necessarily applied to land which may be allocated for essential development in a future Plan.

 

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