Policy information sourced from the The Dartford Plan

Policy M12: Green Belt

Dartford Borough’s Green Belt is shown on the Policies Map, and its essential characteristics are its openness and permanence. Inappropriate development in the Green Belt will be resisted in accordance with national planning policy.

Inappropriate development is by definition harmful to the Green Belt and will only be approved in very special circumstances. Very special circumstances will not exist unless potential harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations.

In assessing other harm, the following criteria will be included in the local planning authority’s consideration:

  • The extent of intensification of the use of the site;
  • The impact of an increase in activity and disturbance resulting from the development, both on and off the site, including traffic movement and parking, light pollution and noise;
  • The impact on biodiversity and wildlife;
  • The impact on visual amenity or character taking into account the extent of screening required; and
  • Impacts arising from infrastructure required by the development.

In assessing harm, development proposals will need to accord with, the objectives, purposes and essential characteristics of the Green Belt, particularly in terms of preserving permanent openness. Developments will also be assessed against the following criteria where applicable.

Re-Use of Buildings

Applications for re-use of buildings must relate to lawful permanent buildings of substantial construction. The change of use of the curtilage to the building, any extension required to facilitate the change of use, and the impacts of such changes in use on the purposes of the Green Belt will be taken into account. The lack of demand for the existing lawful use will need to be demonstrated. In circumstances where character and scale are important to the local setting, excessive external alterations and additions will not be permitted.

Replacement Buildings

The replacement of a building will be permitted where:

  • The replacement building remains in the same use; and
  • The replacement building will not be materially larger than the existing building it replaces, taking into account bulk, height, massing and scale.

Extensions to Buildings

Extensions to buildings remaining in the same use will be permitted where:

  • They are proportionate and subservient in appearance, bulk, massing and scale of the original building; and
  • The proposal would not result in a disproportionate addition to the original building.

Infilling or Redevelopment of Previously Developed Sites

Proposals for the infilling or redevelopment of previously developed sites must not have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt than existing development or cause substantial harm to it. Developments that lead to overintensification of the site will not be permitted.

Changes of Use

Changes of use of land must not have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt and the purpose of including land within it than the existing use. Consideration will be given to the impacts on the Green Belt in terms of other harms set out in criterion 3 and of the impacts of associated works.

Agricultural Development

Development must not result in the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land, disturb or damage soils of high environmental value, or impede the continuation of a lawfully existing agricultural development and/ or land use. Proposals for farm diversification, including shops, processing, workshops or sports and recreation, must be ancillary to the existing main use. It must be demonstrated that the activity is related to the main farm use and that the proposal will not create the need for new buildings or supporting infrastructure and facilities that may harm rural character.

Equine Development

Proposals for the use of land for horses or for the erection of stables and associated facilities and/ or operational development will be carefully considered. Assessment will include the location/ layout of all structures, the need for the size of structures and buildings proposed to serve the use of the land, and the quality of the structures, buildings and landscaping proposed. Structures, engineering works and buildings serving equine uses should be removed from the site when they are no longer in use and are no longer required to serve the equine use of the land.

Development for Outdoor Sport and Recreation

Proposals for outdoor sport and recreation must not adversely impact on the character and amenity of the locality or result in the deterioration of the land, landscape or biodiversity. The scale, siting, design, use and level of activity of built recreation development, together with the supporting infrastructure and services, will be taken into account when assessing the impact of a proposal.

Supporting infrastructure and facilities must not unacceptably harm local character. They must be directly associated with the main use and be of a scale, quality and design to minimise their impact.

Policy information sourced from the The Dartford Plan