Scala Land Group Stays Ahead Of Green Belt Policy

(PRLEAP.COM) Scala Land Group stays one step ahead of today’s policies regarding the development of greenbelt land. They have a business model that is finding and reselling land that has not previously been developed – so-called greenfield land – where it believes there is potential for rezoning for residential development.

The debate still rages today on ideas and policies on this subject and Scala have observed a noticeable and discernable shift in departments that influence greenbelt policy. This shift may potentially have an impact on the way greenbelt land is rezoned for residential development but the land Scala looks for has to be capable of sustainable development, if it is to have a chance of rezoning under current planning guidelines.

One key to sustainability, in planning terms, is for new developments to leverage existing infrastructure. This means looking for sites where there are good transport links; schools, shops, leisure and healthcare facilities nearby; easy connection to utilities like water, electricity and gas; and centres of employment are within easy reach, preferably on foot, by bicycle or by public transport.

Inevitability, judged by sustainable criteria such as these, the most sustainable sites are close to existing towns and cities. Yet often that land is unavailable because it is designated as Greenbelt. There are 14 English conurbations with Greenbelt Zones, and together their greenbelts cover 13% of the country.

This 13% represents a much bigger proportion of Britain’s sustainably-developable land – perhaps as much as one third. Forbidding development on it means – inevitably – that if the government’s ambitious new homes targets are to be met, much of the development will necessarily be on less-sustainable sites.

Scala have noticed that others who influence government thinking are beginning to see the picture in the same light. Natural England, a government body combining the roles of the old Countryside Agency, English Nature and the Rural Development Service, reported late in 2007 that England needs a housing policy that puts green space at the heart of all new development. Part of that is a redefinition of the Greenbelt.

Sir Martin Doughty, Natural England’s Chair, said: "The time has come for a greener greenbelt. We need a 21st century solution to England’s housing needs which puts in place a network of green wedges, gaps and corridors, linking the natural environment and people."

The organisation points out that since Greenbelts were established in the 1950’s there has been little environmental improvement in the quality of these areas. They contain much land that is neglected or of poor environmental quality.

The board of Natural England proposed:

That England’s towns and cities put green spaces at the heart of all new development.

That the most sustainable solution of where to locate new housing is sought including a review of the role of the greenbelt, taking into account quality of life, nature conservation, landscape protection, flood mitigation and the impact of a changing climate.

In the paper it published pre-scoping its proposals, Natural England said: "…we have to consider the option of permitting development on the greenbelt in order to minimise impacts on the natural environment elsewhere."

The paper continued "Of course, some greenbelt land will not be suitable for development. This includes environmental designations, floodplains and strategic gaps to maintain separation of settlements. These areas could be the basis of a new, less extensive, greenbelt. Its form would probably be one of green gaps, green wedges and buffers rather than continuous belts"

Scala’s viewpoint is that, sticking doggedly to the no-development rule for Greenbelt has led to a situation where new developments are often beyond-Greenbelt, creating communities without an adequate infrastructure and encouraging long car journeys to shop, commute and get to school.

Another consequence of current attitudes towards Greenbelt land is that the lack of potential for development on the edges of conurbations encourages development on badly-needed green spaces within them.

That’s why we are seeing the disappearance of spaces like parks, playing fields and even gardens. While Scala doesn’t currently buy and resell Greenbelt land it does recognise that in

some circumstances, development of Greenbelt land might actually be a greener alternative than development outside of it. It hopes that those with planning responsibility recognise this when considering where to build new homes.

Scala Land Limited is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Scala Land Limited will not apply for planning consent relating to any land it sells or its sites as a whole and does not provide services to plot owners collectively. All land is offered freehold without planning consent and no guarantees are given that planning consent will be granted in the future.

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