Issue - meetings

Committee is asked to accept and adopt the Grey Belt advice note for Development Management officers and the Planning Committee, to assist and guide decision making on relevant sites and applications.

The Committee considered a report from the Joint Interim Strategic Planning Managers advising on an update to National Planning Policy which introduced  “Grey Belt,” land within the Green Belt that was either previously developed or did not contribute strongly to its core purposes. This meant that certain Green Belt sites may now be open to appraisal for development. The report and appendices set out a step-by-step framework to assist Planning Development Management in determining whether developments met the appropriateness test set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. Without a consistent approach, there was a risk of inconsistent decision-making and legal challenge, and adoption of the advice note would ensure a robust and standardised approach to sites considered “Grey Belt.” The advice note had been checked by Counsel.

The Committee explored the types of sites that could be considered “Grey Belt” under the criteria. Officers acknowledged there were a number of sites in the borough this could be applied to, but it was difficult to anticipate what sites would come forward for assessment.

The Committee noted that one of the maps grouped Staines-upon-Thames and Egham, and requested clarification on this as Egham was not in the borough. Officers advised that as there was no green belt between them, it was considered one developed area.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Accept and adopt the Grey Belt advice note for Development Management officers and the Planning Committee, to assist and guide decision making on relevant sites and applications.