In the UK and beyond, big brands are displaying their green credentials, but Architectural Designers companies are pleading for a move beyond agenda-less spin.

The Green Belt, when examined in detail, is often neglected, under used and under valued land. Often a mash of power lines, dumping sites, redundant industry and completely sublime (and more or less forgotten and inaccessible) tracts of landscape. The designation of Green Belts and overall strategy to afford long-term protection to these areas seek to promote greater efficiency in the use of land and more sustainable patterns of urban growth. In some people's view, the Green Belt is generally uninspiring or unremarkable and is characterised as derelict and underused land given over to horse grazing or containing ‘bad neighbour’ development such as motorways, pylons or quarries. Planning controls should be strengthened for large-scale or damaging land-use changes in the countryside, in particular, large-scale farm buildings, new and improvement works by drainage bodies and water authorities, clearances of woodland, works affecting woodland and large-scale afforestation. Because developing in the green belt is a challenge, it is important proposals are put forward in a way that gives them the best chance of success. Architects apply impartial and creative thinking to projects large and small. They add value, whether from maximising light and space, adding functionality, or achieving the best return on your investment.



From initial advice on formulating proposals to securing permission and complying with planning conditions thereafter, green belt architects can provide advice on all aspects of green belt architecture. Architects specialising in the green belt understand the complexities of planning law and offer anything from simple planning advice and feasibility studies through to planning applications, public consultations, promotion of land for redevelopment and land realisation. Even though green belt designated areas must not be built upon, that does not mean that no buildings can be erected in green belt. There is however still a positive view in buildings for agricultural uses and sanitation facilities, where development would not be refused. Green Belt projects are a specialist area of architecture and planning. The challenges are hugely different from, for instance, designing for a tight urban plot in inner London. Therefore, in order to have a decent chance of succeeding you need a team who not only can design the exceptional buildings required, but can also understand the mindset of the planning authorities who oversee Green Belt land. Highly considered strategies involving Net Zero Architect may end in unwanted appeals.

Architectural Achievements In The Green Belt

Young people and young families are being cruelly misled by some politicians and some developers, in that allowing building in the Green Belt will provide them with the affordable accommodation they want. Many years of experience in low-energy buildings in both consultancy and academic roles is sometimes found on the CVs of green belt architects. Many have built a reputation for design excellence and expertise across key sectors, with a focus on solving their clients' challenges whilst being mindful of the impact that design can have on people, communities, and society. The term ‘Green Belt’ is used in different ways and invokes mixed opinions. To some it represents the strength of the planning system in preventing development extending into the countryside around major towns and cities. To others it is seen as an outmoded constraint on managed and planned development to meet society’s housing and other needs. The Government attaches great importance to Green Belts. The fundamental aim of Green Belt policy is to prevent uncontrolled spread of urban areas by keeping land permanently open. The essential characteristics of the Green Belt are its openness and its permanence. Green belt architects are generally design led multidisciplinary practices with many years’ experience and a proven track record in the delivery of commercially successful developments. Maximising potential for GreenBelt Land isn't the same as meeting client requirements and expectations.

House building is typically at very low density in the Green Belt despite national planning policy having encouraged and brought about higher residential densities across England as a whole since the 1980s. While development in the cities has taken place typically at 27 dwellings per hectare, development in the Green Belt has been at less than 9 dwellings per hectare. 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. By following agile, collaborative and innovative ways of working, some green belt architects have been able to work on small and large projects across the UK. It is perhaps inevitable, given the dire shortage of homes and certain facilities, that development within land designated as Green Belt is increasingly permitted. Some forms of development are also not inappropriate in the Green Belt provided they preserve its openness and do not conflict with the purposes of including land within it. Clever design involving Green Belt Planning Loopholes is like negotiating a maze.

Structural Strategy

Architects with experience of working on green belt properties are designing places and spaces that do the most for people by using the least resources possible, thus reducing waste and harmful impact on our environment. A fundamental reappraisal of the Green Belt is arguably long overdue, but it should not be driven by issues such as house prices. Such a review should instead ask searching questions about the interconnectivity of cities and their natural hinterlands. In some instances, replacement buildings are desired elsewhere on a green belt site. Sometimes this can have a greater or lesser impact on the perception of openness, dependent on their location. In these cases the local council will assess the existing site and the impact of any existing building. If the new position would not be in keeping with its surroundings, be more prominent or would be less in keeping or would have a greater perceived impact upon the openness of the Green Belt, the proposal is less likely to be acceptable. However, if it is considered to have less impact upon openness, this is likely to weigh in favour of the application. A Green building is nothing more than a building which is built using reusable materials and other materials which make the building efficient and environmentally friendly. Green belt planners and architects strive to find the balance between the financial constraints of a project and the potential to explore creative design solutions towards the goal of a more sustainable environment. My thoughts on New Forest National Park Planning differ on a daily basis.

The experience of green belt architects spans from private residential to commercial and hospitality in the UK and overseas. For each project, they work with their clients to create bespoke design solutions that are tailored to the particular characteristics of the site, the ambition for the new development and the relevant parameters for construction. As every project is different, the involvement of green belt architects may vary from conceptual design and the submission of applications for regulatory consents to tendering and supervision. When local planning authorities prepare new or revised structure and local plans, any proposals affecting Green Belts should be related to a time-scale which is longer than that normally adopted for other aspects of the plan. Designers of homes for the green belt keep their promises about building performance and work holistically with clients to create award-winning inspirational and healthy environments. An architect should be able to tell and advise a client what makes a building energy efficient. The architect should also be able to translate the clients ideas into reality, using both common architectural sense, and the most up to date technology and methods. Formulating opinions on matters such as Architect London can be a time consuming process.

Eco-Friendly, Sustainable Architecture

Natural greenspaces can deliver a range of important social benefits, improving the quality of life for urban citizens and making higher density housing more attractive and liveable. A presumption will be applied that all new developments requiring discharge of waste water should do so to a public sewer to be treated at a public treatment works operated by a water company, unless it is not feasible to do so on grounds of cost or practicality. Green belt architects have experience across all RIBA Stages in multiple types and scales of projects, construction methods, contract types and procurement routes. One can uncover further details appertaining to Architectural Designers on this Open Spaces Society web page.

Related Articles:

Extra Insight On Green Belt Planning Loopholes
Further Insight On Green Belt Planning Loopholes
More Background Information About London Architects
Extra Information With Regard To London Architects
More Background Insight With Regard To London Green Belt Architects
Additional Information With Regard To Green Belt Planning Loopholes
Extra Findings About Green Belt Architectural Consultants