Information on The Green Belt Policy
So you want to build a house in the countryside? However, what if the land where you want to build your dream home is in a Green Belt Area (which isn’t always in the countryside). Well read on to learn what The Green Belt Policy is and why getting planning permission can be problematic but not impossible!
What is The Green Belt Policy?
Simply put, The Green Belt Policy is land that is protected, to stop the influx of urban buildings. If you want to be more technical though, The Green Belt Policy effects some undeveloped land around British cities and towns or in the countryside and stops urban spread by keeping land permanently open (their essential characteristics are their openness and their permanence). Normally, the planning system is set up to allow development to proceed unless there is a harmful element to it. However, in Green Belt areas all development is considered inappropriate and harmful as the Government wants this free land to maintain the lack of visible buildings. Meaning that Green Belt areas have some of the strictest planning controls, and we all know planning controls can be very frustrating!
Misconceptions about The Green Belt Policy
Where is this Green Belt area?
It isn’t just one place, there are lots of Green Belt areas scattered across the UK.
Is it still a Green Belt area if the area isn’t actually green or environmentally friendly?
Yes, any area that is protected by the Government and is written in The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is dedicated as being a Green Belt area. Sometimes, the land designated as a Green Belt area isn’t actually used for something that is ecological so this territory isn’t always green or biodiverse. Which can be very confusing when trying to workout what areas are Green Belt and which aren’t.
It’s impossible to build on Lands preserved by The Green Belt Policy.
No it's not impossible! It can be a challenge but the architects here at Method Studio Architecture have a wealth of experience in this area and we can try our best to help you.
Why is The Green Belt Policy important?
Green Belt areas are allotted for five purposes:
To prevent urban sprawl
Provide a home for wildlife
Protect the setting of historic towns
Assist in protecting the countryside from encroachment
Encourage urban regeneration
If you don’t like lists then generally The Green Belt Policy helps maintain the environment and adds character to a certain land or borough. It is also important to help stop urban intrusion into areas that are supposed to be kept idyllic so that the people nearby have green space to explore. The government’s aim is to protect Green Belts at all costs and to usher developers to build on brownfield and non-green belt countryside.
Planning Permission on lands under The Green Belt Policy
The dreaded phrase - Planning Permission - for Green Belt areas is tricky. But some kind of buildings that you may be able to build are:
agricultural and forestry related
outdoor sports and recreation
extensions to existing buildings
On the other hand, lets say you want to build a house, it will have to have these qualities:
be truly outstanding or innovative, helping to raise standards of design more generally in rural areas
reflect the highest standards in architecture
significantly enhance its immediate setting
be sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area
What the government wants, if you are trying to build on land under The Green Belt Policy, is to have minimal loss of openness. We understand that this can be hard however, in the past nine years 24,000 homes were erected on UK Green Belt Areas. So it is possible! And here at Method Studio Architecture, with a reputation for the inspirational and insightful design of luxury homes, we will try and help you be another one on that list. Check out some homes that we have worked on in these settings.