The 2024 update to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has now been published by the government. This update has brought a significant shift in how development in the Green Belt will be handled. In the past, building on Green Belt land was generally considered inappropriate, with very few exceptions.

Now, however, certain types of development—particularly housing and commercial projects—will have a clearer path to gaining planning approval, as long as they meet specific criteria. Let’s take a closer look at these changes and what they mean for future developments in Greenbelt areas.