Policy information sourced from The Woking Local Development Document - Core Strategy

CS6: Green Belt

To ensure the Green Belt continues to serve its fundamental aim and purpose, and maintains its essential characteristics, it will be protected from harmful development. Within its boundaries strict control will continue to apply over inappropriate development, as defined by Government policy currently outlined in the NPPF.

Broadoaks, Parvis Road, West Byfleet and the Thames Water Sewage Treatment Works, Carters Lane, Old Woking are designated as Major Developed Sites in the Green Belt. This designation will allow limited infilling and redevelopment of the sites, without compromising the integrity of the Green Belt. The suitability of any scheme will be measured against the requirements of the NPPF and other Core Strategy policies. The policy is not intended to change the existing use of the sites.

Mayford Village is designated as an infill only settlement within the Green Belt on the Proposals Map. Within the village infill development will be permitted where:

  • it is for a purpose acceptable in the NPPF
  • it is on land which is substantially surrounded by existing development and which forms a gap within a built up frontage
  • the proposed buildings would be used either for residential purposes or for another use which would not be harmful to residential amenity
  • for residential development, proposals are in accordance with the policies applied to new and replacement houses in the urban area.

The Green Belt has been identified as a potential future direction of growth to meet housing need, in particular, the need for family homes between 2022 and 2027. A Green Belt boundary review will be carried out with the specific objective to identify land to meet the development requirements of the Core Strategy. The Council will ensure that any release of Green Belt land for development will not undermine its overall purpose and integrity. It will also ensure that it will not have any significant adverse effects on the SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites. A Habitats Regulations Assessment will be carried out as part of the review to determine whether there is a need for an Appropriate Assessment.

For more information please see the Core Strategy