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Green Belt Assessment published in light of national policy change introducing Grey Belt

View of woman walking dog on hills above view of Guildford and the cathedral on the skyline

View of woman walking dog on hills above view of Guildford and the cathedral on the skyline
We're reassuring residents that no decisions have been made to build on Green Belt land, after publishing a new assessment in response to changes in Government planning policy.

The move follows the introduction of the "grey belt" concept in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2024. This is a change that requires councils nationwide to review their Green Belt.

Guildford has now completed that review, using independent experts to ensure a robust and consistent assessment.

What the assessment shows

The assessment found that some areas of our Borough's Green Belt meet the Government's definition of "grey belt" or "provisionally grey belt".

However, we are clear that this does not automatically mean development will happen.

"Grey belt" is a national policy term used to describe land that does not strongly contribute to certain Green Belt purposes. It is not a planning decision.

Some sites have been classed as "provisionally grey belt", meaning they can only be fully assessed if a specific development proposal comes forward.  This is particularly relevant where additional protections apply, such as the Surrey Hills National Landscape

No automatic development or site allocation

We are emphasising that:

  • Identifying land as grey belt does not grant planning permission.
  • It does not mean all sites are necessarily suitable for development.
  • It does make any decisions on what land will be allocated for development.

Any future proposals would still need to pass strict planning tests, including sustainability, infrastructure capacity, environmental protections and impact on local communities.

Why this work has been done

The Government has asked councils to carry out these assessments and provided funding to do so.

Our assessment will now form part of the evidence base for the emerging Local Plan and help guide future planning decisions.

It also ensures we are applying national policy consistently and transparently.

Councillor Fiona White, Lead Councillor for Planning said:
"We know that any changes to Green Belt policy will be a concern for residents. That's why it's important for us to be clear.  This assessment does not mean development will automatically happen on any of these sites. This is about making sure we are working in line with national planning policy and using clear, evidence-based information to guide future decisions.

"Any proposals would still need to meet strict planning requirements, and we will continue to carefully consider what is right for Guildford and its communities."

Looking ahead

Further changes to the national definition of "grey belt" are currently being considered by Government, which could affect how land is classified in future.

We will continue to keep residents informed as work on the new Local Plan progresses.

Read our Green belt assessment 2026

Published on: 27 August 2026