What is the Green Belt?
The Green Belt is a land-use planning tool employed by Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to manage spatial development. Its boundaries can be altered during the formulation of Local Plans, though such changes often become heavily politicised at the local level. National planning policy defines five key objectives that Green Belt land serves, which have remained largely consistent over time:
- To limit unchecked expansion of large urban areas
- To stop towns from merging into each other
- To help protect rural areas from being built over
- To maintain the setting and distinct identity of historic towns
- To encourage development on derelict or underused urban land rather than in the countryside
What is the Grey Belt?
Grey Belt refers to areas within the Green Belt that consist of previously developed land or other land that either:
- Doesn’t strongly fulfil the purposes (a), (b), or (d) listed above
- Or isn’t significantly limited by major planning considerations like ecological value, national park status, listed heritage, or susceptibility to flooding or coastal erosion
Meeting the criteria for Grey Belt status is key to being seen as potentially suitable for development under paragraph 155 of the national policy.
What does this mean for my land?
If your land is classified as Grey Belt—meaning it’s previously developed or doesn’t play a strong role in Green Belt purposes—it may qualify as appropriate for development under paragraph 155. In the current political climate, there is a unique opportunity for landowners of suitable sites. The Labour government has made clear that LPAs must maintain up-to-date Local Plans and properly address their development needs—including within the Green Belt—or face direct intervention from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
This combination of political pressure and policy direction could lead LPAs to view Green Belt land more favourably during both planning and development decisions. However, this approach could change with a future government, making it critical for landowners to act now while conditions are particularly advantageous.
If you would like to discuss matters in relation to potential development land, please contact Tom on 01829423183.