GREEN BELT
4.32 A Green Belt policy has been applied around Aberdeen for many years. Its objectives are:
to maintain the identity of communities within Aberdeen and surrounding settlements by clearly defining their boundaries and preventing coalescence; to maintain the landscape setting of the city; and provide countryside for recreational purposes.
4.33 The Green Belt has been successful in preventing unnecessary sprawl and has assisted the progressive regeneration of brownfield sites in Aberdeen and this has created public confidence in its effectiveness. Green Belt policy remains an important component of the strategy focussing development into settlements and encouraging the redevelopment of brownfield sites and thus supporting the main elements particularly promoting, protecting and enhancing the natural environment and reducing the need to travel.
4.34 Scottish Office Circular 24/1985 on "Development in the Countryside and Green Belts" states that land within Green Belts must be critically assessed as part of any development plan review. It states that the stability and endurance of Green Belt can be achieved only where a balance between containment and growth of urban development can be sustained on a long-term basis and in terms of this plan it must support the principles of sustainable development and travel reduction. Therefore in addition to meeting the land requirements of this plan, any review of Green Belt should determine whether land is still essential to meet the aims of the policy or whether it might contribute to the longer term supply of development land (Strategic Reserve). Such an assessment will also serve to relieve pressure on more sensitive Green Belt areas and on valuable urban open space.
| POLICY 27 | ||||||||
| Green Belt | ||||||||
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The area of Aberdeen Green Belt will be maintained as set out in the Key Diagram. Local plans will set the detailed boundaries so that:
The boundaries of the Aberdeen Green Belt and Strategic Reserve Land will be subject to review by both Councils. The review should aim to protect and enhance the prime ecological, landscape and recreational assets of the Green Belt, meet the aims of sustainable transport and identify land for the long term development needs of Aberdeen and surrounding settlements. Future recreational needs should be accommodated and a strategic network of recreation areas identified. The review should indicate the final definition of built up areas, beyond which it is more sustainable to develop existing edge of city communities along main transport corridors. To safeguard its
long term development viability, Green Belt policy will also apply
to Strategic Reserve Land. This will apply until the land is
released for development through the development plan process. |
4.35 The general extent of the Green Belt remains unchanged. However, adjustments are necessary to allow for other plan policies to be accommodated such as park and ride sites and the western peripheral route. Additionally, local plans should identify land that can accommodate the increasing demand for appropriate indoor and outdoor sports facilities and so relieve pressure upon urban open space. Provision should also be made for the area’s informal recreational requirements – not only for the lifetime of the plan but for the longer term. Therefore, local plans should confirm the concept of linked recreation areas including linkages into the urban areas. Such corridors require protection from development and will require initiatives such as the provision and enhancement of pathways and cycle routes. Finally, long term development land for possible developments beyond the lifetime of the plan (Strategic Reserve Land) should be identified and safeguarded. Taken as a whole, this assessment will reduce the need for further boundary reviews and increase confidence in the role of the policy.
4.36 In applying the above policy, local plans will require to resolve the following:
protecting the landscape setting of Aberdeen, its diversity, vantage points and sense of place with reference to the Landscape Character Assessment; reducing the need to travel – sporadic or isolated development should be avoided and sites within or adjacent to the urban area or transport corridors favoured wherever possible; protecting and enhancing habitats and recreational resources – assets such as District Wildlife Sites, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, golf courses, recreation areas, woodlands and pathways; and siting and design – development should be subject to robust and detailed design guidance to ensure quality and sustainable development.
4.37 National guidance sets strict limits on the type of development that can be permitted in Green Belt and this will be endorsed through local plans to take account of strong development demands around Aberdeen.
| POLICY 28 |
| Development in the Green Belt |
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No development will be permitted in the Green Belt for purposes other than those essential for agriculture, forestry, recreation, mineral extraction or restoration or landscape renewal. Local plans may identify opportunity sites for appropriate sport, recreation and countryside uses and such other uses appropriate to the rural character of the area where specific locational or operational criteria mean that they cannot be accommodated within the existing urban area or within areas outwith the Green Belt designation. Such opportunity sites will remain in Green Belt. All such
development must be of the highest quality in terms of siting,
scale, design and materials in accordance with guidance from the
relevant local plan. |