Policy information sourced from Royal Greenwich Local Plan Core Strategy

OS(a) Development in Metropolitan Open Land

Small scale built development which has a primary function for a purpose ancillary and essential to an appropriate use as stated in Policy OS2 may be permitted providing the following criteria are met.

  • The design, scale, massing, siting and landscaping of the proposal should relate sensitively to other buildings on the site, to those on adjoining sites and to the character of the surrounding open land. The proposal should not be visually intrusive and should have minimal impact upon the nature of the area;
  • The proposal is not within a defined site of nature conservation importance nor will it prejudice the ecological or amenity significance of the area;
  • The proposal must not result in the enlargement or creation of an area of public open space deficiency; and
  • The proposal shall not result in a significant increase in vehicular traffic to the site and any provision for parking shall not dominate or fragment the site.

Proposals for a change of use of an existing building, which is in a use ancillary to that of the surrounding open space, to a non ancillary use will not normally be permitted.

Proposals for redevelopment, extension or change of use of existing built development whose primary function is not ancillary to the use of adjoining open land will be controlled in accordance with the criteria set out above and any replacement building should not exceed the ground floor area or height of those existing on the site. There will be a presumption against extensions to existing buildings unless it can be demonstrated that any such development would be modest in scale and not be visually intrusive or have any adverse effect on the character of the surrounding Metropolitan Open Land (MOL).

Special consideration will be given to development proposals on land fringing, abutting or otherwise having a visual relationship with MOL where development could be detrimental to its visual amenity, character or use. Possibilities for opening up visual links and green corridors, or creating new access points into or between open land area will be pursued.

For more information please see the Local Plan Core Strategy