Of course there is a process to go through. Essentially Green Belt can be recommended for release in 'exceptional' circumstances and only after all other 'reasonable' options have been exhausted. What 'reasonable' means is uncertain, what is clear though is that it is increasingly considered reasonable to reject sites outside of the green belt if they are unsustainable. Or more to the point, if developing in the Green Belt is considered more sustainable.

There are three options specified in the National Planning Policy Framework that Councils must exhaust first before Green Belt release can be considered, they are;

1. Make use of all suitable brownfield and previously development land.
2. Optimise the density of all new and existing development i.e. seek to squeeze more dwellings into existing space.
3. Talk to neighbouring local authorities to see if they could accommodate some of the growth (in addition to their own requirement).

Last night (2 February) I gave an update to Failand and Wraxall Parish Council as to the current status of the Local Plan North Somerset Council is developing to accommodate the 20,475 homes we are being told to build and what this means for the Green Belt. The meeting was held in response to a recent proposal to build 500 houses on Green Belt around Failand.

The video below is of my section of the meeting, it's just over 10 minutes and explains in more detail what I have written above.

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