DCLG ministers issue guidance aimed at limiting alterations to Green Belt

The Department for Communities and Local Government also highlighted how the guidance states that housing need – including for traveller sites – does not justify harm done to the Green Belt by inappropriate development.

Ministers said use by councils of the Local Plan, “drawing on protections in the National Planning Policy Framework”, would enable them to “safeguard their local area against urban sprawl, and protect the green lungs around towns and cities”.

The guidance, which can be viewed here, includes the following questions:

"Do housing and economic needs override constraints on the use of land, such as green belt?

The National Planning Policy Framework should be read as a whole: need alone is not the only factor to be considered when drawing up a Local Plan.

The Framework is clear that local planning authorities should, through their Local Plans, meet objectively assessed needs unless any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole, or specific policies in the Framework indicate development should be restricted. Such policies include those relating to sites protected under the Birds and Habitats Directives, and/or designated as sites of special scientific interest; land designated as green belt, local green space, an area of outstanding natural beauty, heritage coast or within a national park or the Broads; designated heritage assets; and locations at risk of flooding or coastal erosion.

The Framework makes clear that, once established, green belt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances, through the preparation or review of the Local Plan.

Do local planning authorities have to meet in full housing needs identified in needs assessments?

Local authorities should prepare a Strategic Housing Market Assessment to assess their full housing needs.

However, assessing need is just the first stage in developing a Local Plan. Once need has been assessed, the local planning authority should prepare a strategic housing land availability assessment to establish realistic assumptions about the availability, suitability and the likely economic viability of land to meet the identified need for housing over the plan period, and in so doing take account of any constraints such as green belt, which indicate that development should be restricted and which may restrain the ability of an authority to meet its need."

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: “This government has been very clear that when planning for new buildings, protecting our precious green belt must be paramount. [This] guidance will ensure councils can meet their housing needs by prioritising brownfield sites, and fortify the green belt in their area.”

Planning Minister Brandon Lewis added: “We have put Local Plans at the heart of the reformed, planning system, so councils and local people can now decide where development should and shouldn’t go.

“Support for new housing is growing, because communities welcome development if it is built in the right place and does not ignore their needs.”