Frequently Asked Questions -
The Local Plan

Q1. What is Green Belt?

The Green Belt is protected land around towns and cities, designed to stop urban sprawl, keep communities distinct, and preserve countryside for nature, farming, and recreation. It is only meant to be built on in exceptional circumstances.

 

Q2. What is Brownfield Land?

Brownfield land is land that has been built on before, such as old factories, car parks, or disused buildings. National planning policy says these should usually be developed before touching Green Belt.

 

Q3. What is the Local Plan?

The Local Plan is a document every council must create to set out where new homes, businesses, and infrastructure will go over the next 15–20 years. Once approved, it guides almost all planning decisions.

 

Q4. What is the NPPF?

The NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) is the government’s main rulebook for planning across England. It sets out how housing targets are calculated, how Green Belt should be protected, and what tests councils must meet in their Local Plans. Inspectors use the NPPF as the standard for judging whether a plan is lawful and “sound.”

 

Q5. Why is the Local Plan important?

Once adopted, the Local Plan has legal weight. It decides where housing will be built, which land is protected, and how local services will be planned. Challenging damaging proposals is much harder after the plan is approved.

 

Q6. What is “Tilted Balance”?

In planning law, if a council cannot show it has enough land for housing (a 5-year supply), then the “tilted balance” applies. This means the scales are tipped in favour of approving new developments, even on protected land, unless harm clearly outweighs the benefits.

 

Q7. What do Planning Inspectors do?

Independent Inspectors, appointed by the government, check whether the Local Plan follows national law and policy. They test if the council has properly considered housing need, Green Belt protections, infrastructure, and fairness to communities.

 

Q8. What will the Inspectorate meetings be like?

The hearings are formal but open to the public. They work like structured discussions rather than court cases. The Inspectors ask questions of the council, developers, and community representatives. Community groups can attend, submit evidence, and speak if invited.

 

Q9. Why do councils say they need to build on Green Belt?

Councils often argue that housing targets set by government are so high that they cannot meet them without using Green Belt. Campaigners argue they should focus first on brownfield land, empty homes, and realistic housing needs.

 

Q10. Who decides the housing targets?

Targets are based on government formulas and projections for population growth, household size, and affordability. Councils can challenge these numbers but must provide strong evidence.

 

Q11. Can Green Belt ever be changed?

Yes, but only through the Local Plan process, and only if the council can show exceptional circumstances. It cannot normally be changed through individual planning applications.

 

Q12. What are “Exceptional Circumstances”?

This means a council must prove that the benefits of removing land from the Green Belt clearly outweigh the harm. It’s a high bar - economic need or government housing pressure alone are not usually enough.

 

Q13. How can communities have a say?

People can submit written objections, attend consultation events, and speak at Inspector hearings. Evidence from residents about traffic, flooding, schools, health services, or loss of green space is powerful.

 

Q14. What happens if the Inspectors find problems with the plan?

They can ask the council to make changes (called “Main Modifications”) before the plan can be approved. If the plan is fundamentally flawed, they can find it unsound.

 

Q15. What happens if the Local Plan is not approved?

The council would have less control over where developments go. Developers could use the tilted balance to push through more speculative applications.

 

Q16. How long does the Local Plan process take?

It usually takes several years, from early drafts to the Inspector’s final report. The Examination in Public is one of the last stages before adoption.

 

Q17. What is Judicial Review?

This is a legal process where a court reviews whether the council or Inspectors have acted lawfully in making their decisions. It’s not about whether people agree with the decision, but whether due process was followed.

 

Q18. How can fundraising help?

Legal advice, planning experts, and specialist barristers cost money. Fundraising ensures the community can stand on equal footing with developers and councils during hearings and possible legal challenges.

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Q19. What is the difference between Green Belt and Greenfield?

• Green Belt is a planning policy designation. It marks land protected to stop towns from sprawling and to preserve countryside. Green Belt land can include farmland, woodland, sports fields, and more.

• Greenfield is a type of land. It means land that has not been built on before, such as farmland or open countryside. Greenfield land may or may not be in the Green Belt. For example: a field inside the Green Belt is both greenfield and Green Belt, while a field outside the Green Belt is greenfield but without the same protection.