Policy information sourced from the Hertsmere Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan
SADM26 - Development Standards in the Green Belt
The Council will assess all applications for development in the Green Belt, as defined on the Policies Map, in accordance with Core Strategy Policy CS13 and to ensure they comply with the following principles:
- developments should be located as unobtrusively as possible and advantage should be taken of site contours and landscape features in order to minimise the visual impact;
- buildings should be grouped together: isolated buildings in the countryside should be avoided;
- existing open and green space in the area, including garden areas, should be retained;
- the scale, height and bulk of the development should be sympathetic to, and compatible with, its landscape setting and not be harmful to the openness of the Green Belt;
- developments should use materials which are in keeping with those of the locality, and, where modern materials are acceptable, they should be unobtrusive;
- existing trees, hedgerows and other features of landscape and ecological interest should be retained and enhanced in order to enrich the character and extent of woodland in the Community Forest in line with Policy SADM12;
- the viability and management of agricultural sites should not be undermined, there also being a strong presumption against development which would fragment a farm holding.
The scale of development will be controlled. In particular:
- a replacement building (which is for the same use) must not be materially larger than the one it replaces;
- an extension or alteration to a building must not individually or cumulatively be disproportionate to the original building1; the addition(s) must be subordinate to the original;
- limited in-filling or redevelopment on a previously developed site must have no greater impact on the openness or purpose of the Green Belt than the existing permanent development.
In judging scale the Council will make a comparison between the existing and proposed development having regard to:
- the proposed change in floor space;
- the proposed change in the volume of development;
- the proposed changes to the site coverage of building and hardstanding;
- the proposed changes in height and orientation of development; and
- the proposed change and intensity of the use(s) and the buildings at the site.
A like for like replacement in terms of building is not necessarily acceptable. The nature and intensity of the new use, its effect on amenity, landscape and the purpose of the Green Belt in that locality will be important considerations.
For more information please see the Hertsmere Policies Plan