Policy information sourced from Windsor and Maidenhead Local Plan
QP5 Development in Rural Areas and the Green Belt
General
The rural areas in the Royal Borough are defined as land within the Metropolitan Green Belt, which includes those settlements that are ‘washed over’ by the Green Belt. In all instances therefore (including in relation to the rural uses specifically addressed below), national Green Belt policy will be applied to development in rural areas within the Royal Borough.
Within rural areas, proposals should not result in the irreversible loss of best and most versatile agricultural land (grades 1, 2 and 3a).
Green Belt
The Metropolitan Green Belt, as shown on the Policies Map, will be protected against inappropriate development. Planning permission will not be granted for inappropriate development (as defined by the NPPF), unless very special circumstances are demonstrated.
Certain forms of development are not considered inappropriate within the Green Belt , as defined in the NPPF. Within the Royal Borough, village settlement boundaries are identified on the Policies Map, and these boundaries will be used in determining where limited infilling may be acceptable:
- Limited infilling within the identified village settlement boundaries within the Green Belt as designated on the Policies Map (marked “Settlements (QP5)”).
- Limited infilling outside identified village settlement boundaries(7) where it can be demonstrated that the site can be considered as falling within the village envelope as assessed on the ground. Inassessingthevillageenvelopeconsideration willbegiventotheconcentration, scale, massing, extent and density of built form on either side of the identified village settlement boundary and the physical proximity of the proposal site to the identified village settlement boundary.
Rural Uses
The following policy will apply to specific types of rural development
Equestrian Development
New equestrian development (including lighting and means of enclosure) should be unobtrusively located and designed so that it does not have a significant adverse effect on the character of the locality, residential amenity, highway safety and landscape quality
Proposals will need to ensure sufficient land is available for grazing and exercise, where necessary
A satisfactory scheme for the disposal of waste will need to be provided.
Facilities for Outdoor Sport, Outdoor Recreation or Cemeteries
The scale of development will be expected to be no more than is genuinely required for the proper functioning of the enterprise or the use of the land to which it is associated.
Buildings should be unobtrusively located and designed so as not to introduce a prominent urban element into a countryside location, including the impact of any new or improved access and car parking areas
The development (including lighting) should have no detrimental effect on landscape quality, biodiversity, residential amenity or highway safety
For more information please see the Local Plan