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Grey Belt Planning

In December 2024 The Government Redefined and Area The Size of Surrey 'Grey Belt'

Grey Belt

The Grey Belt is a Government Initiative to Promote New Housebuilding

In an effort to promote large scale house building, the government has loosened the rules on building on Green Belt by redefining a huge area, equivalent to the size of Surrey as ‘Grey Belt’. The plan is to build up to 370,000 new homes on the land. Understandably environmentalists are in uproar. In a further attempt to loosen rules they have also dropped the requirement that 50% of building should be ‘Affordable Housing’ to make it easier for housebuilders to take full advantage of the new rules.

The new rules, part of a ‘landmark overhaul’ of the National Planning Policy Framework NPPF.

These new rules offer a tremendous opportunity for housebuilders. For help and more information, contact Plande today.

What is Green Belt

What is Grey Belt?

The government previously described grey belt as “poor quality and ugly areas” which were on green belt land.

Green belt was established more than 70 years ago, covering more than 13% of the UK and designed provide green space and stop towns merging into each other.

Grey Belt is defined as land that does not strongly contribute to three of the five purposes of Green Belt.

Now, if a council’s can’t meet its housing need then this Grey Belt land can be used for new homes. It it not just homes thought that Grey Belt land can be used for, but a range of commercial and other developments where there is a proven need.

Green Belt

The new rules on Grey Belt will be a hotly debated topic for years to come.

At Plande we continue to keep abreast of these new opportunities for housebuilders and work with relevant stakeholders to influence how the Grey Belt develops.

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CASE STUDIES

The following are a sample of interesting or challenging projects.

Disclaimer: This page provides an introduction only and is not a definitive statement of the law and should therefore not be relied upon. The information above relates to England only. Policies across the rest of the UK may differ. Contact your Local Planning Authority for advice and confirmation before any works are carried out. All images used are for illustrative purposes only. Read the full disclaimer here.

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