Green Belt definition and legislation

This designation protects land surrounding towns and cities and is there to keep the land permanently open and prevent urban sprawl. Local authorities are encouraged to enhance these areas for beneficial use such as outdoor recreation – something Austin Design Works can help with if you are looking to do this sort of thing.

But the reality is that rather than enhancing the space as a beautiful accessible natural park, most land is left degraded, waiting for the policymakers to change their minds. But until they do, the policy means that development will only be allowed under exceptional circumstances.

Para 149 states that the construction of new buildings is inappropriate, but there are exceptions and the Clause I am referring to here is Clause d.

(d) the replacement of a building, provided the new building is in the same use and not materially larger than the one it replaces;

Crucially, development in the Green Belt must: not have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt than the existing development;