Green Belt assessments - Revision history

Editor at 07:38, 19 February 2026

2026-02-19T07:38:35Z

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	* Purpose D – to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns considered large built-up areas.		* Purpose D – to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns considered large built-up areas.

−	Further information can also be found under the guidance [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/green-belt Green Belt: Advice on the role of the Green Belt in the planning system.] This guidance explains how local planning authorities should assess Green Belt land to identify “grey belt” and use that in both ~~plan‑making~~ and decisions. Grey belt is Green Belt land that makes a weaker contribution to certain Green Belt purposes, but identifying it does not automatically mean it should be released for development or allocated in a plan. Decisions must still apply the full National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), so Green Belt contribution is only one factor among wider policy considerations.	+	Further information can also be found under the guidance [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/green-belt Green Belt: Advice on the role of the Green Belt in the planning system.] This guidance explains how local planning authorities should assess Green Belt land to identify “grey belt” and use that in both plan making and decisions. Grey belt is Green Belt land that makes a weaker contribution to certain Green Belt purposes, but identifying it does not automatically mean it should be released for development or allocated in a plan. Decisions must still apply the full National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), so Green Belt contribution is only one factor among wider policy considerations.

−	Authorities are expected to identify grey belt when reviewing Green Belt boundaries to meet housing or other needs, normally as part of preparing or updating local plans. They also need to decide, case by case, whether land is grey belt when determining planning applications in the Green Belt, because different NPPF tests apply to development on grey belt (for example those in paragraph 155). To do this properly, they should prepare a Green Belt assessment, usually at local or ~~joint‑authority~~ level, and check whether any existing assessments are still up to date.	+	Authorities are expected to identify grey belt when reviewing Green Belt boundaries to meet housing or other needs, normally as part of preparing or updating local plans. They also need to decide, case by case, whether land is grey belt when determining planning applications in the Green Belt, because different NPPF tests apply to development on grey belt (for example those in paragraph 155). To do this properly, they should prepare a Green Belt assessment, usually at local or joint authority level, and check whether any existing assessments are still up to date.

	The guidance sets out key steps for these assessments. Authorities must first define the areas to be assessed, then evaluate how strongly each area contributes to Green Belt purposes (a), (b) and (d), using specified criteria. They must then consider whether other nationally important protections listed in NPPF footnote 7 (such as designated environmental or heritage assets, excluding Green Belt itself) would give strong reasons to refuse or tightly restrict development in that area.		The guidance sets out key steps for these assessments. Authorities must first define the areas to be assessed, then evaluate how strongly each area contributes to Green Belt purposes (a), (b) and (d), using specified criteria. They must then consider whether other nationally important protections listed in NPPF footnote 7 (such as designated environmental or heritage assets, excluding Green Belt itself) would give strong reasons to refuse or tightly restrict development in that area.
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	Using this information, authorities identify which parts of the Green Belt qualify as grey belt, and then consider whether releasing or developing any of these areas would “fundamentally undermine” the five Green Belt purposes when the remaining Green Belt is looked at across the whole plan area. Only if release does not fundamentally undermine those purposes, and the wider NPPF policies are satisfied, can development on grey belt land be considered potentially appropriate.		Using this information, authorities identify which parts of the Green Belt qualify as grey belt, and then consider whether releasing or developing any of these areas would “fundamentally undermine” the five Green Belt purposes when the remaining Green Belt is looked at across the whole plan area. Only if release does not fundamentally undermine those purposes, and the wider NPPF policies are satisfied, can development on grey belt land be considered potentially appropriate.

−	[[Category:~~Articles_needing_more_work~~]]	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =
		+
		+	* Brownfield Passport.
		+	* Consultation on proposed reforms to NPPF and other changes to the planning system.
		+	* Detailed planning permission.
		+	* Golden rules for the release of land.
		+	* Grey belt.
		+	* How long does it take to get planning permission.
		+	* How long does planning permission last.
		+	* IHBC response to revised NPPF.
		+	* Killian Pretty Review.
		+	* Local plan.
		+	* Localism Act.
		+	* National Planning Framework.
		+	* National Planning Practice Guidance.
		+	* Neighbourhood development order.
		+	* Neighbourhood planning.
		+	* NPPF consultation briefing notes on terms.
		+	* NPPF inquiry.
		+	* Outline planning permission.
		+	* Planning legislation.
		+	* Planning permission.
		+	* Planning policy replaced by the NPPF.
		+	* Spatial strategies.
		+	* The grey, the brown and the golden rules of housing
		+
		+	[[Category:DCN_Commentary]] [[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Policy]] [[Category:Organisations]] [[Category:Planning_permission]] [[Category:Public_procedures]]

Editor at 07:35, 19 February 2026

2026-02-19T07:35:27Z

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Editor at 09:54, 18 February 2026

2026-02-18T09:54:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:54, 18 February 2026
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−	The Open consultation: National Planning Policy Framework: proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system published December 2025 refers to the (draft) National Planning Policy Framework: Plan-making and national decision-making policies also published December 2025. Annex E of this document discusses Green Belt assessments saying:	+	The [https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/national-planning-policy-framework-proposed-reforms-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system/national-planning-policy-framework-proposed-reforms-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system Open consultation: National Planning Policy Framework: proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system] published December 2025 refers to the (draft) [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/697b71c52ff8d10a830d5d4a/Draft_NPPF_December_2025.pdf National Planning Policy Framework: Plan-making and national decision-making policies] also published December 2025. Annex E of this document discusses Green Belt assessments saying:

	1. Green Belt assessments should:		1. Green Belt assessments should:

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The Open consultation: National Planning Policy Framework: proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system published December 2025 refers to the (draft) National Planning Policy Framework: Plan-making and national decision-making policies also published December 2025. Annex E of this document discusses Green Belt assessments saying:

1. Green Belt assessments should:

* a. b. c. 2. Identify the location and appropriate scale of the area or areas to be assessed, and in doing so:
** i. consider all Green Belt within the Plan area in the first instance;
** ii. be broadly consistent with any Strategic Green Belt assessment in an adopted Spatial Development Strategy
** iii. ensure assessment areas are small enough to enable variations in their contribution to the Green Belt purposes to be assessed;
** iv. facilitate identifying areas of grey belt by subdividing areas into smaller assessment units where this is necessary; and
** v. 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;

Identify areas of grey belt land, as defined in the glossary, by evaluating the contribution each assessment area makes to Green Belt purposes (a), (b), and (d) set out in GB2, using the criteria below. Identify whether 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.

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 below:

Purpose A – to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas 3. This purpose relates to the sprawl of large built-up areas. Villages should not be considered large built-up areas.

Contribution Illustrative features

Strong Assessment areas that contribute strongly are likely to be free of

existing development, and lack physical feature(s) in reasonable

proximity that could restrict and contain development.

They are also likely to include all of the following features:

- be adjacent or near to a large built-up area

- if developed, result in an incongruous pattern of development (such as

an extended “finger” of development into the Green Belt)

119Contribution Illustrative features

Moderate Assessment areas that contribute moderately are likely to be adjacent

or near to a large built-up area, but include one or more features that

weaken the land’s contribution to this purpose a, such as (but not limited

to):

- having physical feature(s) in reasonable proximity that could restrict

and contain development

- be partially enclosed by existing development, such that new

development would not result in an incongruous pattern of development

- contain existing development, and/or

- being subject to other urbanising influences

Weak or

None

Assessment areas that make only a weak or no contribution are likely to

include those that:

- are not adjacent to or near to a large built-up area, or

- are adjacent to or near to a large built-up area, but containing or being

largely enclosed by significant existing development

Purpose B – to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another

4. This purpose relates to the merging of towns87, not villages.

Contribution Illustrative Features

Strong Assessment areas that contribute strongly are likely to be free of

existing development and include all of the following features:

- forming a substantial part of a gap between towns

- the development of which would be likely to result in the loss of visual

separation of towns

Moderate Assessment areas that contribute moderately are likely to be located in

a gap between towns, but include one or more features that weaken

their contribution to this purpose, such as (but not limited to):

- forming a small part of the gap between towns, and/or

- being able to be developed without the loss of visual separation

between towns. This could be (but is not limited to) due to the presence

or the close proximity of structures, natural landscape elements or

topography that preserve visual separation

Weak or

None

Assessment areas that contribute weakly are likely to include those

that:

- do not form part of a gap between towns, or

- form part of a gap between towns, but only a very small part of this

gap, without making a contribution to visual separation

87 For this purpose ‘towns’ includes cities.

120Purpose D – to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns

5. This purpose relates to historic towns, not villages. Where there are no historic towns in

the plan area, it may not be necessary to provide detailed assessments against this

purpose.

Contribution Illustrative Features

Strong Assessment areas that contribute strongly are likely be free of existing

development and to include all of the following features:

- form part of the setting of the historic town

- make a considerable contribution to the special character of a historic

town. This could be (but is not limited to) as a result of being within,

adjacent to, or of significant visual importance to the historic aspects of

the town

Moderate Assessment areas that perform moderately are likely to form part of the

setting and/or contribute to the special character of a historic town but

include one or more features that weaken their contribution to this

purpose, such as (but not limited to):

- being separated to some extent from historic aspects of the town by

existing development or topography

- containing existing development, and/or

- not having an important visual, physical, or experiential relationship to

historic aspects of the town

Weak or

None

Assessment areas that make no or only a weak contribution are likely to

include those that:

- do not form part of the setting of a historic town, or

- have no visual, physical, or experiential connection to the historic

aspects of the town

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