Building Development in the green belt
Melissa Magee, company director and architect at Carless + Adams, discusses the sensitive issue of building on the green belt and how this sensitivity affects planning permission for new care homes, and explains why action is needed now to avoid greater problems in the future
The UK is recognised worldwide for its environmental and geographical composition and much of this can be accredited to its coastline, green belt, and heritage areas. Think Wordsworth in the Lakes, Churchill in Kent, Hepworth in Yorkshire. The impact and presence that our land gives is powerful, so the use of these spaces is an ethical decision, not just a necessity. Similar to the coastline, once the green belt is developed it cannot be returned, so consideration to its use and maintenance for future generations is of paramount importance. Many residents of the UK that do not immediately neighbour green belts may not recognise immediately their importance; however, appreciation must be given for the natural environment and existing historic and architectural forms and styles of the areas. Development on the green belt is often negatively highlighted in the press, accompanied by emotion-stirring headlines. Unfortunately, such articles often miss detailed, critical analysis about such a development approval. We live in a country with over 67 million people and housing is a constant, powerful, and divisive issue. Almost 19 per cent of the UK population is over 65 years old, and this number is growing as our population ages. Much of the planning development and approval is focused on new housing developments due to the finances involved, but as our population ages this focus needs to shift towards retirement communities, care, and dementia care home provision. The debate is to whether the green belt is the appropriate area to use. The stereotypical geographical spread of those 65+ has been
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Once the green belt is developed it cannot be returned
towards the south coast, south west, or west Somerset. There is a slight turn in the tide, however, as these areas are growing in popularity, and as the population numbers in these regions increase, these elderly communities are longing for new areas, and so the cycle continues. The government states that the ‘fundamental aim’ of the green belt is ‘to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open’ around urban areas. England had around 16,384 km2
(or 6,326
square miles) of green belt land at the end of March 2023, covering 12.6 per cent of England’s land area. The green belt is clustered around 15 urban cores; the largest are London, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, and South and West Yorkshire (including Sheffield, Leeds, and Bradford). It is estimated that 93 per cent of
the green belt was undeveloped land in 2022. This land was primarily used for agriculture. Seven per cent of green belt land was developed, with over half of this developed land accounted for by roads and other transport infrastructure. Residential
buildings accounted for only 0.3 per cent of green belt land and 35,000 planning applications to build additional homes were made in 2023 in the green belt.
How does the NPPF affect the green belt? Development on green belt land is not approved easily nor without cause. Many factors are at play and existing considerations need to be assessed. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) provides a framework against which local plans are drawn up and planning applications are decided. It is the LPA’s responsibility to define and maintain the green belt in their local land and as a result the government expects them to set out boundaries in their local plans. LPAs can change the boundaries of green belt land in their area as part of the local plan review process. A community’s needs can affect change, and the NPPF allows the LPA to review and alter Green Belt boundaries where ‘exceptional circumstances’ are fully evidenced and justified.
Considering these guidelines, rules, and
the protective view of green belts, we must assess why development can occur there. In relation to any development for care, a Care Needs Assessment takes place. This looks at an area’s demographics within a five mile radius of a proposed site to
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com March 2024
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