Making the right decisions regarding Green Belt Architectural Practices
requires us to counteract the apparently diametric forces of emotion
and rationality. We must be able to vaticinate the future, accurately
recognise the present situation, have intelligence on the minds of
others and deal with indecision.
Our open spaces were once
described as ‘the lungs of London' – we do not want them eaten away by
the cancerous growth of buildings. The green belt still has a strategic
importance for London – so that they can be enjoyed. There is, however, a
demand for new housing, which uses land more economically. Part of the
argument for Green Belt release is that local residents are likely to
support the construction of new local homes. For instance, a survey by
the Centre for Policy Studies found that 47 per cent of people believed
that ‘while most of the countryside around England’s towns and cities
should be protected, some ought to be used for new housing and other
development’. There are different options for the future of the Green
Belt that do not destroy it, but rather accommodate it in a different
relationship with the city. In the context of rapid and potentially
disastrous climate change, the Green Belt offers a reservoir of
potential. Rural areas support a dynamic and diverse economy that
employs over 5 million people and makes a significant contribution to
the national economy. Agriculture lies at the heart of this economy and
it supports many spin-off enterprises - from recreation to retail
outlets. The resources that developers and landowners can bring to Local
Plan Inquiries means that the odds are stacked heavily in favour of
Green Belt release. If the complex issues around the Green Belt are to
be adequately addressed, there needs to be a shift towards a more
proactive planning system that is both strategic and regional. There are
new challenges in the 21st century, and new expectations. England’s
population has grown, and is projected to continue to grow. It is
recognised that people benefit from having access to green spaces within
a short distance from where they live. Quality places they can visit
without driving or a long journey by public transport to get there will
be in greater demand.
Architecture
& Planning teams provide innovative, creative and deliverable
planning consultancy and architectural design across their networks.
They are well placed to deliver green belt projects locally and
regionally. England has a severe housing crisis and the greatest need
for homes is in London and the south-east – the area that also has the
most green belt land. Greater London contains 35,000 hectares (86,450
acres) of green belt land and there are another 75,000 hectares within
the M25. Building on just on just a quarter of that land would provide
over a million homes – enough to meet London's needs for generations to
come. Over many decades of combined practice, the architects at green
belt architects have built up strong partnerships and relationships with
a range of high quality builders, expert consultants and other service
providers and professionals who could help with the development of your
property. Sustainable architecture is reflected in a building's
materials, construction methods, resource use and design in general. The
design must also facilitate sustainable operation during the building
life cycle, including its ultimate disposal. Maximising potential for
Green Belt Planning Loopholes isn't the same as meeting client requirements and expectations.
Dot The I’s And Cross The T’s
Few
would dispute that the protection of scenic English countryside from
visual erosion of development is a good thing. But the planning system
offers this protection through designations including Areas of
Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The
green belt is viewed by some as a great success of the planning system.
It certainly prevents sprawl, but at the cost of countryside in other
areas. It is also inflexible which can represent a challenge to
achieving wider goals of the planning system both in terms of the
quantum of development and its quality, for example in relation to the
achievement of sustainable development principles. However large or
small your project is, green belt architects are here to offer planning
advice on the best and most effective uses of buildings and land; the
design and layout option for the site and the wider aspects of the
development proposal. Green Belt policy has provided a framework for
making some decisions around towns and cities with the planning
designation in place. It is a simple framework that assumes that urban
areas need open space and breathing spaces around them – for that to
happen, the form and size of urban areas should be contained. If not,
urban development would sprawl and settlements would become too big and
lose their historic character. As a planning concept, Green Belts have
been around almost as long as the modern Town and Country Planning
System. They were first suggested in the 1930s, but it was the new Town
and Country Planning Act in 1947 that gave local authorities powers to
designate them. Innovative engineering systems related to
New Forest National Park Planning are built on on strong relationships with local authorities.
A
strategically planned approach to the Green Belt should replace the
simple red/green delineation of city and countryside. A regional
planning mechanism based on cities and their hinterlands should be
introduced. These city regions should assess their needs in terms of
housing, energy, water management, transport, etc., and plan
accordingly. Green belt architects provide more than just drawings. They
are passionate about design and always strive to get every detail
right. They believe in practical architecture - understanding how spaces
work both aesphecially and functionally. The green belt polarises
debate into two camps: those that argue for it to remain untouched and
those who argue for its partial or total release for development. This
makes any debate on the Green Belt both politically contentious and
somewhat sterile. Concentric in nature, the Green Belt has grown
significantly since its creation. There are two views in the English
psyche about the Green Belt: one is a romanticised view of protecting a
beautiful, ‘natural’ landscape and the other is a pragmatic approach to
limit the growth and extent of the city. Wherever possible, new
dwellings which have a proven need to be in the Green Belt should be
built within an existing settlement or other group of buildings. If
either of these is not possible, then the new dwelling should be within
the curtilage of the source of employment, preferably adjacent to
existing groups of buildings. Taking account of
Net Zero Architect helps immensely when developing a green belt project’s unique design.
High Quality Build Plans
People
want to live their lives responsibly and do whatever they can for the
environment. Simply put, the popularity of sustainable homes is growing.
The approach of green belt architects is holistic, working to nurture
innovation and enabling every project to meet the highest possible
performance standards. They an optimism about architecture's potential
to enrich our society. The effectiveness of green belts differs
depending on location and country. They can often be eroded by urban
rural fringe uses and sometimes, development 'jumps' over the green belt
area, resulting in the creation of "satellite towns" which, although
separated from the city by green belt, function more like suburbs than
independent communities. Architects apply impartial and creative
thinking to projects large and small. They add value, whether from
maximising light and space, adding functionality, or achieving the best
return on your investment. The imposition of housing targets and the
piecemeal responses through local plans is not a rational approach to
dealing with such a valuable resource as the countryside surrounding our
cities. The incremental loss of Green Belt, driven by development
pressures, is fuelling an emotive (and largely unproductive) reaction
against new development. Following up on
Green Belt Land effectively is needed in this day and age.
A
green belt architect is a skilled professional who plans and designs
buildings and generally plays a key role in their construction.
Architects are highly trained in the art and science of building design.
Since they bear responsibility for the safety of their buildings’
occupants, architects must be professionally licensed. Green belt
building designers are extremely environmentally conscious and they help
to minimise the carbon footprint a new build can create by using local
materials and local trades. Architecture is a team-working process and
rarely a lone activity. There is always a client and there is always an
interpreter of that client's needs. The relationship between client and
architect is fundamental, and the establishment of a professional and
trusting relationship between the two is the bedrock of every successful
project. Green Belts should be designated, and development within them
controlled, primarily in relation to meeting the planning policy
purposes. However, it is also likely to strengthen the case for new
Green Belts if they can be used to protect either a concentration of
well-managed and valuable areas of land (such as nature reserves), or
can help secure natural and active travel connections to important areas
of landscape. Architects of green belt buildings value community -
striving to be a positive force through design and teaching, engaging
with local conversations, and aiming to add value - be that social,
environmental, financial, educational or other. Designing around
Architect London can give you the edge that you're looking for.
The Green Belt Is Not Sacrosanct
The
planning system is unable to make strategic choices as it is too
fragmented at local level, weak and under resourced. Under the present
policy regime, the partial release of Green Belt is unlikely to provide
sustainable or affordable housing for those in need. Green architecture
is creating or modifying a building that helps reduce the negative and
harmful effects on our climate and natural environment all through its
design strategy, construction process, and operation. The expertise of
some green belt consultants range from strategic analysis to
construction details and practical troubleshooting. Some have a
particular interest in innovative sustainable design with low energy
impact that respects the environment. You can discover further intel
about Green Belt Architectural Practices on this
House of Commons Library entry.
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