Architects London

Make known some tall tales about Green Belt Consultants that you've detectedUnder pressure from government to set and meet high housing targets, councils are releasing green belt for new development through a misappropriated ‘exceptional circumstances’ clause. Councils are increasingly eroding the green belt to meet unrealistic and unsustainable housing targets. The government is proposing to encourage further development in the green belt. Not all Green Belt was created equal. Rather than the picture postcard fields you might imagine, much of the Green Belt is far from that. It includes, for example, large areas that already have development on them. People often assume that getting planning permission to build or extend on Green Belt land is just too difficult but that is not always true and it is possible to get projects approved even if they are within the green belt. Contrary to some assumptions, there is no requirement that green belt land be released as a last resort to meet a specified need. Exceptional circumstances can be met by a single circumstance, or the accumulation or combination of several circumstances of varying natures that entitle the decision maker to conclude they warrant altering the green belt boundary. The NPPF state quite clearly that there needs to be exceptional circumstances for green belt developnment to happen. It could be that there is an elevated demand for new homes, but councils need to demonstrate that every other avenue has been explored first. They need to prove they have exhausted all possibility of using Brownfield sites, that density in current builds has been optimised and that they have considered the needs of neighbouring councils. Green Belt policy has proven very effective at directing the location of development. Built development (both new build and re-building) has been largely concentrated within existing urban boundaries. If land is removed from the Green Belt and made available for housing, we want to know three things. Will it result in the right types of homes being built in the right places, which the people who need them can afford? Will it help the re-use of the acres of derelict and under-used land in the area? And will it enhance the connection between residents and the countryside they hold dear? The preservation of open countryside does not guarantee public access or biodiversity, and there are large areas of Green Belt that are deficient in both of these. The use of agricultural land, for food production or nature conservation, is becoming important in light of sustainable food production in post-Brexit Britain. A green belt architectural company specialises in the design of low energy, low environmental impact buildings, cost effectively and to the highest quality standards. Green Belts are usually elements of national planning policy, expressed through County Structure Plans. However, there are various different measures and schemes which have been referred to as ‘Green Belt’ and not all of them are the same. The biggest Green Belt in the UK is known as the Metropolitan Green Belt, around London. Formulating opinions on matters such as New Forest National Park Planning can be a time consuming process.Green Belt Planning LoopholesThe issue of Green Belt development is currently very topical and none more so than in and around London. A recent report ‘The Green Belt – A Place for Londoners?' issued by London First, Quod and SERC concluded that whilst much of London's Green Belt continues to play an important role it is not a “sacred cow”. We can and should be building new homes and protecting the green spaces that are vital for people and the environment. It is not a question of ‘either/or’. The redevelopment of major sites can have a positive role in providing access to the open countryside and opportunities for outdoor sport and recreation for the urban population, can retain and enhance attractive landscapes and the use of land for agriculture and forestry, and can improve damaged and derelict land around towns and secure nature conservation interests. A business can work hard to reduce energy usage with some effectiveness, but a poorly designed building will often make it much harder to avoid waste. It's vital that buildings are designed with sustainable, eco-friendly, energy-saving principles and technologies in mind from the outset. A green belt architects' local community is important to them, and they take each opportunity to engage with and make positive contributions to their area, such as providing local jobs and being a good neighbour. They invest in their people's technical and business skills. Following up on GreenBelt Land effectively is needed in this day and age.The majority of Green Belt is categorised as farmed land or woodland. In terms of farm type and quality of land it is similar to much of England, although with a slight overall tendency towards smaller holdings and less mainstream activities. The quality of agricultural land in the Green Belt matches the pattern across the rest of England but with vast differences between Green Belt areas. With regard to the openness of the Green Belt, councils should consider the impact of proposals on a case by case basis and the unique circumstances of the site. Redevelopment proposals should generally have no greater impact than the existing development on the openness of the Green Belt and the purposes of including land within it, and where possible, have less impact. Economic diversification in rural areas is not sufficient reason for needing new buildings for a new non-agricultural business in the Green Belt. Even before considering Green Belt issues, non-agricultural businesses are often better suited to a built-up area because they have better public-transport links, they promote development on land that has been built on before and they are closer to a greater number of potential customer, workers and supporting services. All buildings have meanings that are deeply enmeshed with their appearance. That can surely be taken as axiomatic. But that appearance is itself read differently at different times and to some extent depends on what we want to see, what our eye expects to have presented. Where planning mechanisms are the sole instrument for managing green belt development, there is clear evidence that the Green Belt is likely to be eroded. This might be a slow process, but it is a relentless one. Local characteristics and site contex about Net Zero Architect helps maximise success for developers.Sustainable DevelopmentThe UK's desperate need for new housing cannot all be accommodated on brownfield sites, or indeed, on greenfield sites outside the green belt. From an environmental and practical perspective, they should be located close to existing infrastructure – otherwise all you are doing is leapfrogging the green belt and forcing people into long commutes, mostly by car, which flies in the face of climate change, air quality and zero-carbon commitments. The planning system itself is an approval engine. You just need to know how to operate the machine in the most efficient way possible. Knowledge of local and national policy at the earliest stage becomes a deciding factor in green belt site selection. Councils will consider redevelopment proposals of previously developed sites based on their impact upon the openness of the Green Belt and the purpose of including land within it. All applications will be judged on their merits on a case by case basis having regard to the adopted Development Plan and any other material planning considerations including national planning policy. There is real scope to maintain the absolute size of Green Belts, by compensating for any loss close in the main settlements, services and transport routes, by extending or ‘letting out’ the ‘Belt’ a notch or two, at its outer edge, thereby maintaining the full extent of the Green Belt; albeit in different locations. Ecosystem services are the wide range of valuable benefits that a healthy natural environment provides for people, either directly or indirectly. The benefits range from the essentials for life, including clean air and water, food and fuel, to ‘cultural’ ecosystem services that improve our quality of life and wellbeing, such as recreation and beautiful landscapes. They also include natural processes, such as climate and flood regulation that we often take for granted. Can Architect London solve the problems that are inherent in this situation?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. You need realistic advice from specialised green belt architects to find out whether your design falls under Permitted Development or whether it needs planning permission, and what needs to done to make sure that it passes muster. Any proposed development is going to be thoroughly scrutinised, so you need all the expertise you can. Some architects specialising in the green belt have assembled an industry-leading team of highly qualified professionals to create an exceptional full-service practice. Architects that specialise in the green belt make buildings that are satisfying and enjoyable to use, beautiful to look at and easy to understand. Sustainability is an integral part of good architecture and they work hard to make the best use of the opportunities presented by each project. When converting or re-using properties in the green belt, buildings should be of a local, visual or historical merit which generally means traditionally constructed stone buildings. However, brick/block structures of the late 19th and 20th century, for example former piggeries and poultry houses may also be suitable. In such cases, buildings should be of a permanent and substantial construction and should not be so derelict that they could only be brought back into use by substantial rebuilding. Clever design involving Green Belt Planning Loopholes is like negotiating a maze.Architecture PlanningThe advice of green belt architects is grounded in the previous experience of their team working for housebuilders, high-profile property consultancies and local government. Their collaborative working approach means that there will always be a senior member of staff adding value to your project and who is able to respond to issues arising. With green belt planning consultants working in both public and private sectors, they offer expertise in everything from residential and commercial, to agricultural, leisure and renewables. They love any opportunity to tackle new and exciting projects, so whatever your planning needs, they have you covered. A wealth of provisions exist to protect land. Nationally this protection can be found under areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as well as National Parks. You can get supplementary intel about Green Belt Consultants in this House of Commons Library web page.Related Articles:Additional Information About Architectural Consultants Specialising In The Green BeltExtra Insight On Net Zero ArchitectsMore Background Findings With Regard To London Green Belt ArchitectsSupplementary Information About Green Belt ConsultantsFurther Findings With Regard To Architectural DesignersFurther Insight With Regard To Green Belt Architectural DesignersSupplementary Information On Green Belt Architectural Practices