The Gloucester and Cheltenham Green Belt was designated in 1958. It is the second smallest Green Belt in England, being confined to land separating Gloucester and Cheltenham, and Cheltenham and Bishop’s Cleeve.
The NPPF says that the fundamental aim of Green Belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open, and that once established, Green Belt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances through the preparation or review of the Local Plan.
Purposes of Green Belts are:
• to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas;
• to prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one another;
• to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment;
• to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns; and
• to assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
Landscape quality is not a criterion for designation, but once defined planning authorities should plan positively to enhance the beneficial use of the Green Belt.
A Joint Core Strategy is being prepared for the Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury local authority areas.
In our consultation responses we are arguing that:
• the general extent of the current Green Belt should be broadly retained
• consideration should be given to extension to the north of Bishop’s Cleeve to provide further containment to the Cheltenham urban area, and to the south of Gloucester to safeguard the important strategic gap between Gloucester and Stonehouse
• removing land from the Green Belt for development should only be contemplated where it is clear that this would provide the most sustainable solution for accommodating future development requirements
• the following Strategic Objective should be included in the Core Strategy - To promote the positive management of the Green Belt to enhance its contribution to the landscape, biodiversity and access.
We wish to see the Green Belt as a focus for investment in Green Infrastructure to provide improved networks of open space; better access into the countryside; enhancement of the landscape including new areas of woodland; enhanced wildlife habitats; opportunities for Community Supported Agriculture; and more opportunities for recreation and exercise.
Read our Policy Statement