Standing at a crossroads and deciding which way to go is a metaphor for life. Its also apt when describing how to select the best Green Belt Architectural Practices. Hopefully this article will help you find the right direction.

One thing many people don’t realise is that if you own an existing property in the green belt your permitted development rights remain unaffected (unlike in an AONB, Conservation Areas or National Parks) and there is much you can do to maximise the volume of your property, including outbuildings, if you live in the green belt. This includes adding extra storeys and extending to the side and rear by a not-insubstantial amount. All proposals for infilling and redevelopment will be considered in the light of their effect on the visual amenities of the Green Belt and on the traffic and travel implications of the development, including the possible adverse impact of new road infrastructure. The acceptability of a new use for a major developed site will also depend on its having no detrimental effect on local facilities such as schools and health care facilities. It is a myth that the Green Belt is sacrosanct. Many farms and rural business lie within the Green Belt, this does not prevent them developing their homes and businesses and obtaining planning permissions for this. Planning permission in the green belt will not usually be granted for development on land that is used, or was last used, as open space. This includes: Parks and Gardens, including Country Parks; Natural and Semi-Natural Green Space; Amenity Green Space; Play Provision for Children and Young People; and Outdoor Sport Facilities, including School Playing Fields. Green belts do not prevent pylons or telecommunication masts, though local communities can object to the design or location of the latter. Green belts do not prevent pieces of countryside being purchased by developers in the expectation that one day they will get planning permission and thereby increase in value. Such land is often left untidy in the hope that unsightliness will increase the likelihood of planning permission. Green belt architects have professional experience in both the public and private sectors throughout the UK. They have extensive planning knowledge and experience and specialise in obtaining planning permission for their clients in the quickest time and most cost effective way possible.



Packaging planning applications & planning appeals in a professional and appropriate manner could mean the difference between success and failure. Increasingly other property professionals are now advising their clients to instruct planning consultants at an early stage of the development process, as they are able to advice on the best way of approaching a potential development site. A vast majority of green belt architects provide full architectural services from project conception through to completion. They believe that as architects they have a responsibility to design and build low energy buildings; creating spaces that focus closely on maintaining the occupant's comfort. A team of green belt architectural designers have all the skills and experience to guide you through your self build – all the way from the initial drawings to the last brick. With a combined design/build service at competitive rates, they take all the stress out of building your own home, so you can enjoy the adventure. Green belt architects have an excellent understanding of planning policy and extensive experience across a broad range of projects throughout London, the Home Counties and further afield. My thoughts on New Forest National Park Planning differ on a daily basis.

Creativity And Flair

Where planning mechanisms are the sole instrument for managing green belt development, there is clear evidence that the Green Belt is likely to be eroded. This might be a slow process, but it is a relentless one. The consensus within society that led to the creation of the Green Belt is now under stress. Society has changed and its needs are pluralist. When considering the future of the Green Belt it should be self-evident that an institution designed 70-80 years ago is unlikely to be ideal for today’s circumstances. Urban sprawl can have a serious detrimental effect upon the natural and built environment through the loss of large areas of valuable countryside and the merging of distinct areas of development into an indefinite, characterless mass. Many of the changes people tend to want to make to their homes, such as extensions, external changes or even knocking down and replacing a building are exceptions to the anti-development bent of Green Belt policy, and are often acceptable to local councils. House prices have increased as the supply of houses cannot meet the demand in urban areas due to developments being constrained by Green Belt land that isn't fit for purpose. Those without adequate income find themselves pushed out, and in many cases, they’re forced to make long-distance commutes to get to work across the very Green Belt that is restricting development. Can Architect London solve the problems that are inherent in this situation?

There is a tendency to see all open or green field land and particularly that on the edge of towns as Green Belt: it isn’t. Some also believe the Green Belt and its ‘inviolability’ as a matter of law: it isn’t. Opening up dialogue with planning policy departments and informing them that you have land available for future development is another opportunity developers can make use of in order to secure the future development potential of a green belt site. Often the best business investment opportunities are right under your nose, yet are somewhere no one else has dared to look. A prime example is building on green belt land. Could this be an investment opportunity that many are missing out on? Paragraph 55 of the NPPF sets out that, in rural areas, housing should be located where it will enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities and that new isolated homes should be avoided. As well as not enhancing the vitality of rural communities, isolated homes force residents to be dependent on private vehicles to access facilities and services; this goes against the principles of sustainable development. Increasingly standards of environmental design are being driven by regulatory frameworks. Responding to these pressures requires a holistic approach - sustainable design can only be achieved by a collective effort from the whole of the design team and we aim to be pro-active in driving this effort. Taking account of Green Belt Planning Loopholes helps immensely when developing a green belt project’s unique design.

Eco-Architecture

The UK’s planning system is generally in favour of development in towns and cities as an economic benefit – but not when it comes to Green Belts. Green Belt planning policies expect a justification as to why development should be allowed. It’s not against development per se, but more about why it should happen in this particular place. The Government is striving to achieve a more predictable form of planning regulation, with the best interests of both developers and local communities in mind. High quality consultation, particularly through digital or Smarter Engagement, can strengthen proposals; demonstrating that local communities have been involved will be key. Green Belt covers 12.5% of England and is the area around many of our towns and cities that provides the countryside next door for 30 million people. Yet despite its importance to so many people, it’s missing out on a lot of key funding. While part of the rationale for development in the Green Belt is the need for affordable housing, most of the development that is proposed is not ‘affordable’. Of the homes proposed for the Green Belt, less than 30 per cent of units were considered affordable. With urbanisation growing since the greenbelt was first proposed, there is a need to offer the necessary provisions for a growing city from housing to hospitals to retail and hospitality amenities. London is set to only grow further and with cities being destination priorities over rural areas, greenbelts often are seen as an outdated constraint that doesn’t meet the cities' needs today. Innovative engineering systems related to  Net Zero Architect are built on on strong relationships with local authorities.

The policy for Green Belt land is arguably the most widely recognised planning tool known by the general public. However, the actual purpose of the Green Belt is widely misunderstood. Some development is permitted in renewal areas but would be restricted completely in protected areas. So, don't be disappointed if your planning application doesn't go your way, there could be a way forward with some compromise and additional explanation. Land promotion involves securing allocation and planning permission for a site, usually for residential or commercial development, thereby significantly increasing its value. Once planning permission is achieved, the site can then be sold or developed. The Government sees the Green Belt as helping the process of regeneration. Its Strategic Guidance envisages changes to Green Belt boundaries only in exceptional circumstances when economic regeneration may be constrained by the lack of suitable industrial sites. Where it has been concluded that it is necessary to release Green Belt land for development, plans should set out ways in which the impact of removing land from the Green Belt can be offset through compensatory improvements to the environmental quality and accessibility of remaining Green Belt land. Research around GreenBelt Land remains patchy at times.