Green belt Planning Policy Help

Westward19

Hi all, I’m not sure whether this is the right place to post this or not but I’d appreciate any help and advice,...

I recently purchased an acre of woodland within the greenbelt, ordnance survey plans show a “track” leading to the land, the site was historically a council works but has long since been decommissioned.

After spending a bit of time at the land I found that the “track” is in fact a full fledged tarmac road complete with concrete kerbs and drainage and has just become overgrown and covered in mud. Similarly the site has a lot of hardstandings and roadways.

Seen as though it is currently classed as greenbelt, would I be breaking any policy by simply uncovering the existing road ? Or would this in itself require planning ?

Any help would be fantastic. Thanks in advance.

davidmcn

Doesn't sound like it would constitute "development" in planning terms, so don't see a problem.

eddddy

Westward19 wrote: »

I recently purchased an acre of woodland within the greenbelt, ordnance survey plans show a “track” leading to the land, the site was historically a council works but has long since been decommissioned.

I'm not a planning expert, but if the land was previously used as a council works, I believe you should be able to continue using it for a similar purpose.

That might make the land far more valuable than regular green belt woodland.

Westward19

Thanks for your reply. I was under this impression too but it’s very complicated haha.

There was some new guidance I believe that states previously developed sites in the greenbelt may be suitable for limited development however it seems very ambiguous.

Davesnave

As David says, this isn't development of a type you could use to argue for further above-ground building. Farmers frequently build tracks across land, but that doesn't mean they can then ask to construct buildings along them.


What is this 'guidance' you refer to. Is it Section Q? Whatever it is, it must have a name.

AdrianC

What sort of "council works" was it?

It's entirely possible that it was woodland owned by the council, with no other development but the access road. Outdoor education centre?

daveyjp

There is something called 'operational greenbelt'. For example factories in the countryside which have may been there decades and have subsequently ended up in land designated as greenbelt.

Whilst they operate they are fine to continue, but expansion of the footprint would have to appreciate the greenbelt status of the land. Once the operation ends and the property is in effect abandoned the land reverts to greenbelt and any redevelopment would need to be in line with green belt policy.

Westward19

It was a water treatment facility previously and has various buildings on it, all of which have since been removed, leaving only the concrete pads and hardstandings.

daveyjp

In that case the land is now green belt.

ethank

In planning terms isn't this brownfield land? Brownfield land is any previously developed land that is not currently in use. The government are keen to see such land redeveloped.

Info at https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Brownfield_land

Westward19

Thanks for your help everyone, in terms of the overgrown track, it’s an easement crossing the councils land, would I be legally allowed to make it passable again to access my land by vehicle ?