Green Belt
Through revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework in December 2024, government has introduced some significant changes to Green Belt policy. The updated framework retains the importance and permanence of the Green Belt but now requires local planning authorities to review Green Belt boundaries through local plans, if the need for development cannot be met elsewhere and is seeking that the strategic release of lower quality Green Belt for development is considered. Identification of areas of lower quality or less important Green Belt includes the introduction of the new concept of ‘grey belt’. In addition, revisions to the NPPF set out ‘golden rules’ relating to the release of land for development. These require that where land in the Green Belt is developed an increased proportion of affordable housing is provided (either 50% or 15% above the proportion required elsewhere in B&NES); necessary improvements to local or national infrastructure are made; and the provision of new, or improvements to existing, green spaces that are accessible to the public.
In the 2024 options document the council proposed and consulted on options to amend the approach to limited infilling in villages washed over by the Green Belt in order that development demonstrates it provides a form of housing that will help to meet local needs. It is not proposed to reconsult on this option. As a result of the changes to national policy outlined above it is necessary to test and consult on options to ensure the overarching Green Belt policy (currently adopted policy CP8) aligns with national policy and specifically the golden rules relating to development. There is also an opportunity to ensure the provision of new or improvements to existing green spaces help to deliver nature recovery, potentially contributing to delivering a higher level of Biodiversity Net Gain (20%) related to strategic or non-strategic development sites.
Green Belt – Proposed Options
| No | Options | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| 1 | Amend policy so that it references and includes the ‘golden rules’ that should be met in progressing development in the Green Belt (either via very special circumstances or through the release of land via the local plan). In referencing the need to provide new or improve existing green spaces a requirement that its role for nature recovery is assessed and maximised, also facilitating achieving 20% BNG related to development proposals. | Accords with the NPPF and further explains how the provision of new/improvements to existing green space ‘golden rule’ will be applied in B&NES benefitting nature recovery. | None identified |
| 2 | Retain existing policy and rely on NPPF for articulating ‘golden rules’ | None identified | Fails to accord with the NPPF and doesn’t incorporate the ‘golden rules’ into the statutory Development Plan. |