Policy information sourced from the Bexley Unitary Development Plan

ENV4:

Proposals for development within the Metropolitan Green Belt must, in addition, comply with the following criteria:

  • the proposed development should not detract from the function and appearance of the Green Belt;
  • any buildings or structures should be appropriate in bulk and appearance to the open nature of the Green Belt, and their materials should be sympathetic to the landscape;
  • wherever possible, new building should be carefully sited in relation to existing buildings on or near the site;
  • the proposed development should retain sufficient space around the building, within the site, to maintain the contribution the site makes to the character of the Green Belt by virtue of its open and spacious nature;
  • a high standard of landscaping and design will be required, reflecting the character of the surrounding area; and
  • habitats and features of landscape or nature conservation importance will be protected.

ENV5:

Replacements of existing permanent dwellings in the Metropolitan Green Belt will be considered on their merits, but complete rebuilding of existing dwellings will be unacceptable where the number of individual dwelling units is increased, or where the increase in living accommodation exceeds the cubic capacity of the original dwelling to the detriment of the openness of the Green Belt or the purposes of including land in the Green Belt.

ENV7:

Sub-division of existing dwellings to increase the number of individual dwelling units will be unacceptable where this is detrimental to the openness of the Green Belt or the purposes of including land in the Green Belt.

ENV8:

The reuse of buildings in the Green Belt may be appropriate provided that:

  • it does not have a materially greater impact than the present use on the openness of the Green Belt or the purposes of including land in the Green Belt;
  • any extension or reused buildings and associated uses of land surrounding the building preserve the openness of the Green Belt and the purposes of including land in the Green Belt (for example external storage, hard standing, car parking, boundary walling or fencing);
  • the buildings are of permanent and substantial construction and are capable of conversion without major or complete reconstruction; and
  • the form, bulk and general design of the buildings are in keeping with their surroundings.

ENV9:

The Council will oppose any form of development which will cause a loss of productive, or potentially productive, agricultural land classified as Grade 1 or 2 or 3a land, as defined by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), or which reduces the viability of farm holdings.

ENV10:

The Council will encourage recreational uses of a predominantly open nature to locate in suitable parts of the Metropolitan Green Belt. Special consideration will be given to open-air recreational proposals, which would result in the improvement of under-used or damaged land.

ENV11:

The Council will oppose residential development in the Metropolitan Green Belt, except in the case of a dwelling for an agricultural worker, which may be permitted if all the following criteria are satisfied:

  • the holding is commercially viable;
  • it can be demonstrated that the agricultural worker must be resident on the holding and there is not suitable alternative accommodation available in the locality; and
  • the development meets the criteria set out in Policy ENV4.

ENV12:

Garden centres and farm shops will be acceptable in principle in the Metropolitan Green Belt only where:

  • a local need can be demonstrated;
  • the major proportion of merchandise is produced on site;
  • they are of a scale and character which blends in with the surrounding landscape; and
  • there is no detrimental impact on areas or features of nature conservation importance.

For more information please see the Bexley Unitary Development Plan