Elizabeth WelchAssociate Director and Chartered Town Planner
Planning in the Green Belt is a complex area and one often overlooked by the bigger London Based firms. Hobbs Parker was established in 1850 -- we've been working with clients in the Green Belt long before it was even designated.
The Government attaches great importance to Green Belts; the essential characteristics of Green Belts are their openness and their permanence.
It is a myth that the Green Belt is sacrosanct. One of our main client sectors is the agricultural community and many farms and rural business lie within the Green Belt, this does not prevent them developing their homes and businesses and us obtaining planning permissions.
We have been operating successfully this long for the simple reason that we know what we can achieve for clients in the Green Belt.
Our successful project portfolio includes residential development, equestrian and riding enterprises, new agricultural dwellings, farm shops, leisure uses, farm buildings, renewable energy schemes, industrial uses Etc.
As with any land designation, the Green Belt has a planning purpose. Yet within it many forms of development can be appropriate. Even if development is considered to be inappropriate, one may be able to argue very special circumstances that outweigh any potential harm to the Green Belt caused by the development.
Generally speaking buildings for agriculture, forestry, outdoor sports facilities, and equestrian facilities can all be considered appropriate.
Other uses such as limited extensions to dwellings and buildings, replacement of buildings with similar uses, limited infilling in villages and affordable housing for community needs can all be acceptable.
If your land or buildings lie within the Green Belt it pays to use a planning practice that understands the issues. For us the Green Belt is actually very straightforward from a planning point of view, and one area in which we excel.
If you are interested in finding out more and learning about some of our successes in this area, please get in touch with one of our planning consultants.
Please note – We cover the South East of England only