What is the Green Belt? Are you allowed to extend houses in the Green Belt?

Green Belts are formally designated areas around major conurbations. They have several purposes, including restricting the spread of urban areas and protecting the countryside. Green Belts are often confused with the wider countryside: not all green countryside is Green Belt.

A large portion of the north-west area of Stratford on Avon District (north from Stratford upon Avon and Alcester) is covered by the West Midlands Green Belt.

Policies concerning development in the Green Belt emphasise the protection of the 'openness' of the area. The key policy documents are Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 (PPG2) and draft Local Plan Review Policy PR.2. Development is categorised as either 'appropriate' and 'inappropriate'. Appropriate developments include things such as:

• agricultural and forestry development;
• modest extensions to houses (over and above the size of the dwelling at the time of Green Belt designation);
• replacement dwellings of similar size to the existing dwelling; and
• outdoor recreational uses, including small scale facilities.

There is a presumption against proposals for inappropriate development, which should only be allowed where there are very special circumstances which would override the harm which would be caused to the Green Belt.

Draft Local Plan Review Policy PR.2 allows for the extension of dwellings by up to 30% of the volume of the dwelling as it existed in 1975, when the Green Belt was designated. For further advice, please write to the Development Control team at Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford upon Avon CV37 6HX or telephone 01789 260303.

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