3 March 2025The government has announced detailed guidance on its revised approach to Green Belt in England as set out in the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) issued in December 2024. This guidance includes what is meant by ‘grey belt’ and how it should be identified; how and why green belts should be reviewed, and guidance on how major housing development on land in the Green Belt should contribute to accessible green space and other benefits (the so called ‘golden rules’). At the same time, it has provided funding to 133 local authorities to undertake Green Belt reviews.
The government has also announced further guidance to ensure planning policies and decisions ‘give substantial weight to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements for homes and other identified needs’.
The new national Policy Practice Guidance on green belts can be found here, and brownfield land here.
