Policy information sourced from St Albans District Local Plan
1 Metropolitan Green Belt
The whole of St. Albans District lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt except for the following areas:
- the towns and specified settlements listed in Policy 2;
- land North of Buncefield, Hemel Hempstead (proposed warehousing, see Policy 20, ref:• EMP. 7);
- Colney Street Industrial/Warehousing Estate (see Policy 20, ref: EMP.22);
- North-East Hemel Hempstead (land west of Cherry Tree Lane - see Policy 26).
The boundaries of the Green Belt around these areas (as shown on the Proposals Map) have been defined by reference to the degree of long term expansion of the built-up areas acceptable in the context of the stated purpose of the Green Belt.
Within the Green Belt, except for development in Green Belt settlements referred to in Policy 2 or in very special circumstances, permission will not be given for development for purposes other than that required for:
- mineral extraction;
- agriculture;
- small scale facilities for participatory sport and recreation;
- other uses appropriate to a rural area;
- conversion of existing buildings to appropriate new uses, where this can be achieved without substantial rebuilding works or harm to the character and appearance of the countryside.
New development within the Green Belt shall integrate with the existing landscape. Siting, design and external appearance are particularly important and additional landscaping will normally be required. Significant harm to the ecological value of the countryside must be avoided.
The circumstances and locations in which development will be permitted will also have regard to the ensuing policies, particularly:
| Chapter | Subject | Policies |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Key structuring policies | 2 |
| 3 | Housing | 6, 8, 10-18 |
| 4 | Employment | 24 |
| 5 | Transportation | 36, 39-50 |
| 6 | Shopping and service uses | 55-60 |
| 7 | Social and community services | 60B, 61, 63-67 |
| 8 | Design and environment | 70,72-80, 84 |
| 9 | Conservation and historic buildings | 85-90 |
| 10 | Leisure | 91, 93, 95-98 |
| 11 | Tourism | 99,101 |
| 12 | Countryside | 102-106 |
| 14 | Archaeology | 109-111 |
| 15 | St. Albans City Centre | 114 |
| 17 | Highfield Oval site, Harpenden | 132 |
| 18 | Fleetville | 137 |
| 19 | London Colney | 139 |
| 20 | Upper Colne Valley | 143, 143A |
For more information please see the Local Plan