GreenBelt

 

A Comprehensive Critique On The Idea Of Green Belt Architectural Practices

What is one truly second to none element about the best Green Belt Architectural Practices organisations that makes them outshine the competition?

As well as working on a range of developments within the Green Belt a core element of a specialist architect's experience is submitting planning applications and obtaining valuable planning permission for replacement dwellings and house extensions. One common misunderstanding is that “Green Belt” is a label attached to individual pieces of land that can be taken on and off. Each Green Belt is a large section of connected land that wraps around cities and towns but includes (“washes over” in the jargon) villages. It’s true that the boundaries are adjusted every now and then, but not on a one-off basis. There are people whom see the Green Belt as protected areas, recreational spaces – the “green lungs” of the city – adding to the character and the quality of life of an area. They see the Green Belt as areas of significant landscape quality, protecting valuable agricultural land and wildlife habitats which enhance biodiversity. Urban sprawl can have a serious detrimental effect upon the natural and built environment through the loss of large areas of valuable countryside and the merging of distinct areas of development into an indefinite, characterless mass. Architectural thought is primarily non-verbal thought; a fact of very considerable significance since so much of our every-day thinking is verbal. We are accustomed, in particular when communicating consciously, to use words; at a less conscious level, body language is ubiquitous. Education reinforces that pattern. The NPPF advises that a local planning authority should regard the construction of new buildings as inappropriate in the Green Belt. Despite this very restrictive approach to development, it can still be possible to secure planning permission for development in certain circumstances.

Green Belt Architectural Practices

Architects specialising in the green belt develop sustainability strategies for projects in conjunction with the design teams. Their approach is holistic, working to nurture innovation and enabling every project to meet the highest possible performance standards. Where there is a demand for affordable housing in a particular location, new homes can be allowed in the Green Belt to meet that need. However, this exception only applies where specific policies in the Local Plan that allow that to happen – and even then, only if the need for those homes is clearly demonstrated. Many of England’s Green Belts cross over several local authority boundaries or are in areas covered by two tiers of local government. In two tier areas there is often a division of responsibilities between a local planning authority (a district or borough council) and a county council that has responsibilities for or resources relating to farm holdings, public rights of way and landscape. A wider, strategic approach to managing the Green Belt can be helpful in such areas. Architects specialising in the green belt have an A+ commitment to quality, combining the best in design with technical and commercial thinking. They understand that decisions made now have a long-term impact. Following up on Net Zero Architect effectively is needed in this day and age.

Pressure To Build On The Green Belt

Green belt architects plan and design the construction and development of buildings and land areas with regard to functional and aesthetic requirements. They also monitor construction work in progress to ensure compliance with specifications. Green belt architectural consultants love to work collaboratively, getting everyone onboard to create a truly sustainable and fully-considered outcome. Architects with experience of working on green belt properties incorporate the latest trends in sustainable design to create green building designs with a focus on functionality and aesthetics. Developing the UK's revered green belt is always contentious, but sometimes building on protected land can deliver a more positive outcome for communities and developers than the alternatives. Paragraph 147 of the National Planning Policy Framework states that “inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances." Therefore, the construction of any new buildings would be considered inappropriate development on Green Belts, and as such, you would be required to submit a case for “very special circumstances” which must outweigh the resulting harm to Green Belt land. My thoughts on Green Belt Land differ on a daily basis.

If a local council does grant green belt planning permission for a replacement building greater than 10% of the volume of the existing building because of the removal of outbuildings, it is likely that we will also remove permitted development allowances. Many buildings today are built using procurement routes where the architect’s domain of influence is deliberately limited. Materials and details may have to be chosen shrewdly if they are to survive cost cutting or the passing of control to other hands. It is regularly argued that Green Belt restricts the building of the homes we need. But as we have shown here, developments in the Green Belt continue to be land-hungry, and lack the affordable housing that people actually need. At the same time, we are faced with a new way of calculating housing need which will only increase the pressure faced by local authorities to build on Green Belt land. You can engage green belt architects for your project with confidence, knowing that getting planning permission granted for your project is absolutely as important to them as it is for you. They provide inspirational architectural design and take your project from the initial idea to confirmation of permitted development or planning permission. With their passion for clean lines, elegant details and a minimal aesthetic, it's unsurprising that green belt building designers are also big fans of green architecture. Research around New Forest National Park Planning remains patchy at times.

The Green Belt Is Not Sacrosanct

Green Building incorporates principles of sustainable development – meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future. Developers prefer to build on ‘greenfield’ land (any site never built on) rather than face the costs of clearing previously developed brownfield sites. Also, houses in greenfields are more attractive to buyers and may sell more easily. Greenfield land is not the same thing as green belt land, but green belts can help to protect greenfield land. Green Belt areas have some of the strictest planning controls, and their planning policy is the polar opposite of planning policy in areas that aren’t designated as such. Greenfield sites (including green belt) are increasingly favoured by developers as they are cheaper to exploit than brownfield sites which have much higher transaction costs. Here economic growth priorities and national planning policy tends to push development pressures onto the urban fringe areas rather than more costly brownfield land. Humans are consuming the natural resources of the planet more than ever. The number of people living on earth is at its peak, and the planet simply doesn’t have the capabilities to regenerate resources that fast. A well-thought-out strategy appertaining to Architect London can offer leaps and bounds in improvements.

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. The current framework emphasises setting local targets for housing delivery. While this remains the case, local authorities will question how they can deliver their visions and ensure that the green belt remains sacrosanct, particularly if they have no suitable brownfield sites to put forward. Sustainable building solutions range from a focus on retrofit, the adoption of circular economy principles, decarbonising the grid, reducing embodied carbon in buildings, bringing down operational carbon to net zero, and increasing green infrastructure. A green belt architect will aim to ‘de-risk' complicated and time-consuming planning permission processes and frequently work closely with councils and other key stakeholders, including local communities affected, to successfully instil confidence in the challenging developments that their clients propose. Designers of homes for the green belt see a greater need for conserving resources and began developing new techniques like passive solar heating and smart grid technology. Highly considered strategies involving Green Belt Planning Loopholes may end in unwanted appeals.

Collaborative Approaches

Green belt architects undertake design work from a strategic level to detailed architecture with creativity, enthusiasm and knowledge. Their buildings are rooted in their context, have a contemporary design, high performance and are tailored to the needs of users. A green belt architectural business creates beautiful, comfortable, high-performance and truly sustainable buildings. They are experts in sustainable design and are passionate about delivering aesthetics, performance, reliability and comfort. Development opportunities in the largely undeveloped parts of the UK are increasingly scarce and the ever increasing emphasis that the Government places on sustainable development allied with the protection of the countryside and landscape has the potential to result in the stagnation and ultimate decline of their rural communities. You can get more details on the topic of Green Belt Architectural Practices at this Open Spaces Society entry.

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