Hanham District Green Belt Conservation Society strongly opposes the inclusion of three Green Belt development sites in South Gloucestershire Council’s draft Local Plan, namely “The Batch”, land at Castle Inn Farm and land south of Abbots Road (although it is unknown if land south of Abbots Road remains in the draft Local Plan).
As the plan moves towards its Regulation 19 stage in early 2025, we kindly ask residents and stakeholders to consider the serious implications for Hanham’s Green Belt, particularly in light of the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12th December 2024.
The Role of Green Belts: Safeguarding Openness and Preventing Urban Sprawl
The Government’s policy on Green Belts (paragraphs 142-160 of the NPPF) emphasises their vital importance in preventing urban sprawl and keeping land permanently open. Green Belts serve five key purposes:
To check unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas;
To prevent neighbouring towns from merging;
To safeguard the countryside from encroachment;
To preserve the setting and special character of historic towns;
To assist in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and urban land.
Hanham’s Green Belt embodies these principles. All three proposed development sites contribute significantly to these purposes and their loss would undermine the integrity of the Green Belt.
Green Belt Alteration: Exceptional Circumstances Required
The NPPF permits changes to Green Belt boundaries only in “exceptional circumstances,” which must be fully evidenced and justified. Strategic policies must explore all other reasonable options for meeting development needs, such as:
Maximising the use of brownfield and underutilised land;
Increasing density in urban areas;
Collaborating with neighbouring authorities to address unmet needs.
At the Regulation 18 stage of the draft Local Plan, the Council had not demonstrated that these steps had been exhaustively pursued. Furthermore, releasing Green Belt land should prioritise previously developed (brownfield) land or "grey belt" areas that do not strongly serve Green Belt purposes. None of the three sites adjacent to Castle Farm Road meet the definition of grey belt; they all strongly support Green Belt purposes, particularly in safeguarding the countryside and preventing urban sprawl.
The Concept of "Grey Belt"
The NPPF introduces the concept of grey belt as Green Belt land that is either previously developed or does not strongly contribute to the purposes of paragraphs 143(a), (b), or (d). Crucially, the three sites do not qualify as grey belt, as they play a vital role in:
Checking urban sprawl;
Maintaining separation between Hanham and nearby communities;
Preserving the rural and historic character of the area.
Development on these sites would contradict the Government’s intention to prioritise sustainability and the permanence of Green Belts.
Harm to the Green Belt: A Heavy Burden of Proof
Paragraph 153 of the NPPF requires substantial weight to be given to any harm caused to the Green Belt. Inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful and should not proceed unless “very special circumstances” clearly outweigh this harm. For Hanham, the potential loss of Green Belt land at Castle Farm Road cannot be justified by the limited benefits of new housing, especially given the availability of alternative, sustainable sites outside the Green Belt.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The inclusion of Abbots Road, Castle Inn Farm and "The Batch" in South Gloucestershire’s draft Local Plan threatens Hanham’s identity, environment, and future. These sites fail to meet the criteria for grey belt and remain essential to the Green Belt’s purposes. We call on South Gloucestershire Council to remove these sites from the Local Plan and prioritise sustainable development on non-Green Belt land.
We kindly ask all residents to:
Respond to the Regulation 19 consultation in early 2025;
Advise the Council that
the sites contribute significantly to the five purposes of the Green Belt;
the locations are unsustainable on economic, social and environmental grounds
Support the preservation of Hanham’s Green Belt for future generations.
Together, we can ensure that Hanham remains a place where green spaces thrive, historic character is preserved, and sustainable development is the guiding principle.
Comments