It’s a common misconception that land is designated as Green Belt due to its landscape or ecological value and cannot be built on, but that’s not correct.
Green Belts are specific areas that were originally identified to prevent the sprawl of towns and villages and prevent them from merging into one another by keeping the land undeveloped and safeguarding the countryside in those areas.
Although development in the Green Belt is restricted by national planning policy, it is not ruled out completely. There are exceptions that can permit the development in the Green Belt.
Areas can be removed from the Green Belt through Local Plans in exceptional circumstances. We need to build close to where the housing need is and if this is in the Green Belt, this could be a strong enough reason to develop in the Green Belt.
Limited infilling in villages and limited affordable housing for local community needs is also permitted in the Green Belt if this is set out in the Local Plan.
New Green Belt can also be created through the Local Plan. We will consider looking to see where new Green Belt could be created in Central Bedfordshire.
Approximately 38% of Central Bedfordshire is Green Belt, and this covers most of the southern part of Central Bedfordshire.