GREEN belt land has long been the subject of much discussion since the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act, which allowed local authorities to designate green belt areas in their development plans.

Today, 14 green belts cover approximately 12 per cent of England’s land mass.

The primary aim of the policy is to prevent urban sprawl by ensuring that the land remains permanently open.

There are significant restrictions on development in the green belt, although certain developments, which maintain the open character of the land, may be considered acceptable.

Debate continues over the future of the green belt in light of pressure from developers and and the requirement to meet increased housing demand.

The Green Belts – A Greener Future report, published by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Natural England, encourages the production of local food, fuel and fibre, more well-managed places for recreation, more renewable energy production and protecting the open, rural character of the green belt. They argue it is of fundamental importance to actively manage green belt land.

A key recommendation in the Barker Review (2006), commissioned by the government, stated that “new development beyond towns and cities occurs in the most sustainable way, by encouraging planning bodies to review their green belt boundaries and take a more positive approach to applications that will enhance the quality of their green belts”.

The report also promoted a review of green belt boundaries.

The government’s planning white paper of 2007 explained there would be no fundamental change to its national planning policy guidance for green belts and that: “Decisions on boundaries should be made through the development plan process as is current policy.”

The recent Foresight Project report on Land Use Futures, sponsored by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Communities and Local Government, found that while the UK has been relatively successful in containing urban sprawl, market pressures and changing socio-economic conditions strongly identify a need for a review.

It is clear that the green belt is a widely debated topic and is likely to be a major planning issue for the foreseeable future.

■ Louise Oakley is a planning consultant with BHP Develop. Call 0191-221-0898.