Making good decisions regarding Architects Specialising In The Green Belt requires us to even out the seemingly diametric forces of emotion and rationality. We must be able to forecast the future, correctly detect the present situation, have intelligence on the minds of others and deal with ambiguity.

If you require guidance on how to tap into new property potential, green belt architects can also review existing land assets and seek out any planning opportunities to make the most of those land assets. Green Belt policy has provided a framework for making some decisions around towns and cities with the planning designation in place. It is a simple framework that assumes that urban areas need open space and breathing spaces around them – for that to happen, the form and size of urban areas should be contained. If not, urban development would sprawl and settlements would become too big and lose their historic character. People may indeed be willing to entertain housing in the Green Belt - as long as the development does not occur in their backyard. There does appear to be a gulf between strategic public opinion, which recognises the need for more housing, and local opinion, which will resist proposals in their particular locality. Designers of homes for the green belt have a strong belief in the sensitive re-use of heritage assets through well-conceived interventions which are both culturally and environmentally sustainable. Green belt architects guide their clients through the increasingly complex planning system – helping realise the development potential of their property and land, identifying solutions to their planning problems and helping them avoid the pitfalls that can hinder development. The aim of green belt planners and architects is to design with passion and bring sustainable solutions.



The environmental design philosophy of architects that specialise in the green belt follows a robust ‘fabric-first’ approach, ensuring that all opportunities for passive, low-technology energy-saving measures are adopted from the outset. Green belt architectural teams approach each project with creativity and open mind to understand their clients and make sure they are on the same page. They focus on understanding their clients’ vision and develop design criteria that reflect their goals. Nothing is too complex for green belt architectural businesses; their connections in the industry are vast, and thus they are able to call upon external help as and when required. Over the past year various think tanks, academics and policy commentators have considered whether green belt boundaries around London should be relaxed in order to ease the housing crisis. Their proposals often suggest the release of green belt land within easy walking or cycling distance of railway stations, land which could provide space for upwards of one million homes. Key design drivers for Architect London tend to change depending on the context.

Design Solutions

Green belt planning is a puzzle which needs considered guidance from the inception of a project. If a project ends up at a planning committee, it is where the application has been recommended for approval by the Planning Department, but the Committee have chosen to overturn this and refuse. Architects that design for the green belt ensure that all designs make the best use of orientation and the natural features of the site including sun, wind and landscape. Economic policy arguments that should be promoting the regeneration of regional cities in order to rebalance the national economy are generally subordinate to transport criteria. In the case of Green Belt policy, the result is an incremental approach that is likely to be sub-optimal. The green wedge as an urban policy in UK, however, cannot compete the green belt which is the main stream. It is only urban policy on the local level in UK, for example Norwich and Lincoln utilize green wedge as restraint policies to protect historic settings. Green building choices minimize negative impacts on the environment, create homes that work smarter and more efficiently, and make the most of natural and sustainable resources. Can Net Zero Architect solve the problems that are inherent in this situation?

Does the Green Belt designation impact on the management of land in the urban fringe? Have the land use objectives for Green Belt land encouraged positive land management? What are the best ways of preventing degradation of land in the urban fringe and maximising productivity of the land, and the benefits to people? Critics of the green belt argue that the green belts defeat their stated objective of saving the countryside and open spaces. Such criticism falls short when considering the other, broader benefits such as peri-urban agriculture which includes gardening and carries many benefits, especially to the retired. The magic thread that runs through green belt architecture is you. Understanding, interpreting and formulating a solution that responds to your unique circumstances is an architect's vital starting point. Obtaining planning permission prior to a green belt build is essential – otherwise your local authority could insist the whole building be pulled down at any stage (even if you’ve recently completed it). For this reason, before you even buy the land, make sure you’ll get planning permission to erect your home. Green belt planners and architects are passionate about high quality contemporary design and approach every project with a fresh perspective; seeking to fulfil the design brief, whilst being sensitive to the context and our environment. Highly considered strategies involving Green Belt Land may end in unwanted appeals.

Advising And Advocacy

While we absolutely agree that Green Belts are important and should be preserved to protect their countryside and urban areas, there are many acceptable circumstances when extensions, alterations and even the replacement of properties on them are permitted. Many of the practices of architecture are about the discipline’s entanglement in contemporary issues. The concept of contemporary is one that is fully implicated in contemporary tradition, practices and ideas. When considering any planning application, local planning authorities should ensure that substantial weight is given to any harm to the Green Belt. ‘Very special circumstances’ will not exist unless the potential harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm resulting from the proposal, is clearly outweighed by other considerations. Permitted development rights do apply in the green belt and may be the best approach to extend an existing property within the green belt. If the works fall beyond the scope of what is permitted then there are key things that need to be considering in a planning application. It is important that the protection of areas of Green Belt which are arable land, which is low in biodiversity and does not support or buffer important semi-natural areas do not receive more protection than brownfield land with high value for biodiversity. Local characteristics and site contex about New Forest National Park Planning helps maximise success for developers.

Architects are challenged not only in crafting a design that excels in form and function, but also in being able to come up with integrated solutions that take into account environmental factors. Crucially, the defining feature of countryside which is designated as ‘Green Belt’, is its permanence; the assurance that it will remain for generations to come to enjoy its benefits. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) formalises this, through stating that development in the Green Belt or alteration of its boundaries should only occur under ‘very special’ or ‘exceptional’ circumstances, and should be done through the local plan process. There are 19 local authorities across England with over 75% of their total area covered by Green Belt. Between them, these local authorities have just under 350,000 hectares of land taken up by Green Belt. While the areas are spread widely across the country, the majority are covered by London’s Green Belt, with 15 of the local authorities found in either the South East or East of England. Combined, they have an annual housing requirement of 11,200 homes. When picking out new materials for sustainable architecture, the first choice are materials that can be renewed in the future and used once again. When it comes to wood options, one of the most popular ones is bamboo. Bamboo can be used commercially after six years, which is much better than timber. Land promotion involves securing allocation and planning permission for a site, usually for residential or commercial development, thereby significantly increasing its value. Once planning permission is achieved, the site can then be sold or developed. Professional assistance in relation to Green Belt Planning Loopholes can make or break a project.

Aspects Of Design Quality

It's vital that landowners and others with aspirations for their land, ensure that planning policy supports their plans and get involved in the local development plan process. Often called ‘Local Plans', these documents shape and influence future development and crucially, they identify a supply of land to meet future development needs. Whilst the conversion of a rural building in the green belt is acceptable in principle, it is important that certain design principles and other issues are considered. Most ouncils support the appropriate re-use of vernacular buildings for a range of end uses but will specifically welcome conversion schemes to a commercial end use to support prosperous rural economies, and which involve minimal alterations to the building’s character and/or appearance. By looking at all aspects of a design, architects question how a project impacts family, the environment, utility areas, storage and external spaces and work accordingly. You can find more details relating to Architects Specialising In The Green Belt at this House of Commons Library web page.

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