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The Government has published new advice on the role of the Green Belt in the planning system, including advice on assessing Green Belt to identify grey belt land.
GOV.UK writes:
This guidance sets out:
- the considerations involved in assessing the contribution Green Belt land makes to Green Belt purposes, where relevant to identifying grey belt land
- the considerations involved in determining whether release or development of Green Belt land would fundamentally undermine the remaining Green Belt in the plan area;
- guidance for considering proposals on potential grey belt land
- guidance on identifying sustainable locations when considering the release or development of Green Belt land
- updated guidance on how major housing development on land which is released from the Green Belt through plan making, or on sites in the Green Belt, should contribute to accessible green space
Assessing Green Belt to identify grey belt land
This guidance is relevant to those authorities performing a review of Green Belt boundaries to meet housing or other development needs (either prior to or as part of the plan making process), those authorities otherwise required to determine whether land constitutes grey belt in decision making, and others seeking to identify grey belt land. Where grey belt is identified, it does not automatically follow that it should be allocated for development, released from the Green Belt or for development proposals to be approved in all circumstances. The contribution Green Belt land makes to Green Belt purposes is one consideration in making decisions about Green Belt land. Such decisions should also be informed by an overall application of the relevant policies in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
Why should authorities assess their Green Belt to identify grey belt land?
As set out in national policy, the review and alteration of Green Belt boundaries should take place, where necessary, as part of the plan making process. In doing so, we expect authorities to identify grey belt land to inform this review and the prioritisation detailed in paragraphs 147 and 148 of the NPPF. National policy also requires authorities to identify, where necessary, whether land is grey belt for the purpose of considering applications on Green Belt land. Where land is identified as grey belt land, any proposed development of that land should be considered against paragraph 155 of the NPPF, which sets out the conditions in which development would not be inappropriate on grey belt land. Paragraph: 001 Reference ID: 64-001-20250225
How should authorities assess their Green Belt to identify grey belt land?
In order to identify grey belt land, authorities should produce a Green Belt assessment, either as part of the review of Green Belt boundaries during the preparation or updating of a local plan, or at another relevant point. This assessment should be informed by the guidance below. We expect most Green Belt assessments to be undertaken by local authorities or appropriate groups of local authorities. Green Belt assessments should also inform the preparation of Spatial Development Strategies where these will be setting the strategic context for land release. When updating or preparing plans, authorities will need to consider whether any existing Green Belt assessment remains up to date. Paragraph: 002 Reference ID: 64-002-20250225
What are the key steps in a Green Belt assessment?
In order to assess the Green Belt in the relevant local or strategic development area effectively, authorities will need to:
- identify the location and appropriate scale of area/s to be assessed
- evaluate the contribution each assessment area makes to Green Belt purposes (a), (b), and (d), using the criteria identified below
- consider whether applying the policies relating to the areas or assets of particular importance in footnote 7 to the NPPF (other than Green Belt) would potentially provide a strong reason for refusing or restricting development of the assessment area
- identify grey belt land
- identify if the release or development of the assessment area/s would fundamentally undermine the five Green Belt purposes (taken together) of the remaining Green Belt when considered across the area of the plan
Paragraph: 003 Reference ID: 64-003-20250225
How should authorities define the land to be assessed?
In assessing their Green Belt, it will in most cases be necessary for authorities to divide their Green Belt into separate assessment areas for the purpose of identifying grey belt. The number and size of assessment areas can be defined at a local level and respond to local circumstances.
However, the following principles will need to be considered:
- when identifying assessment areas, authorities should consider all Green Belt within their Plan areas in the first instance
- to ensure any assessment of how land performs against the Green Belt purposes is robust, assessment areas should be sufficiently granular to enable the assessment of their variable contribution to Green Belt purposes
- a small number of large assessment areas will not be appropriate in most circumstances – authorities should consider whether there are opportunities to better identify areas of grey belt by subdividing areas into smaller assessment areas where this is necessary
- authorities should consider where it may be appropriate to vary the size of assessment areas based on local circumstances. For example, the assessment of smaller areas may be appropriate in certain places, such as around existing settlements or public transport hubs or corridors
Paragraph: 004 Reference ID: 64-004-20250225
How should the contribution land makes to the relevant Green Belt purposes be assessed?
When making judgements as to whether land is grey belt, authorities should consider the contribution that assessment areas make to Green Belt purposes a, b, and d. Considerations for informing these judgements are set out in detail in the guidance.
