First and foremost, what is the 'grey belt'?
Grey belt land refers to previously developed but currently underutilised or vacant areas situated between green belt and urban spaces. These areas include former industrial sites, derelict buildings, and infill plots within villages and towns. With the new Labour government targeting 1.5 million new homes, grey belt land offers a promising solution to transforming neglected spaces into vibrant communities.
The importance of grey belt land
The introduction of grey belt land could significantly boost the UK property market by providing a viable alternative to traditional green belt development. Estimates suggest that up to 200,000 new homes could be built on newly identified grey belt sites, addressing the housing crisis while preserving the environmental integrity of the green belt.
This initiative could play a crucial role in bridging the gap between urban expansion and environmental conservation. However, as Paul Davis, co-founder of Nimbus, emphasises, “We need to understand how grey belt will be defined. Only then can we identify which sites fall within that definition to establish the viability of the proposals.”
The idea is, that by repurposing underused areas, the initiative supports sustainable growth and helps alleviate the pressure on green belt zones. According to the proposed planning reforms, grey belt development aims to maximise the use of existing infrastructure, thereby reducing the need for extensive new construction projects and minimising environmental disruption.
Key advantages of grey belt land:
- Maximising existing infrastructure: Utilising grey belt land takes advantage of existing infrastructure, reducing the need for new construction and minimising environmental impact.
- Economic revitalisation: Developing these areas can stimulate local economies by creating jobs and increasing property values.
- Sustainable growth: Grey belt development promotes sustainable urban expansion by repurposing neglected spaces rather than encroaching on untouched green belt areas.
Why is Nimbus your best solution for finding grey belt land?
Paul adds: "When it comes to finding viable grey belt opportunities, access to data insights will not only speed up development on these areas but also add much-needed clarity to the potential that the grey belt offers.
"Luckily for property professionals, Nimbus is uniquely positioned to help developers identify and capitalise on these opportunities – and not just locally, but at scale too. Our platform offers advanced features designed to streamline the site-finding and planning process, ensuring you make informed decisions with speed and ease."
An example of Nimbus features that help achieve this include:
Bespoke site finding: Our site finding features enable you to easily locate land and buildings that fall into grey belt areas using custom filters such as location, site size, and use class.
Precision planning: Our innovative planning feature provides a comprehensive range of tools to help you understand planning policy and environmental, heritage and strategic land constraints in real-time.
Real world application
Using Nimbus, you can easily identify land and buildings that fall into these grey belt areas based on plot size or internal building space. With a few clicks, you can understand the feasibility of the land or building to ensure it meets your criteria. Once validated, you can quickly find ownership information, allowing you to find, assess, and make contact within a few steps, saving you considerable time.
For example, in Cobham, Surrey, Nimbus identified 20 sites within the small village that fit the grey belt criteria and could potentially add up to a minimum of 120 additional dwellings.
Paul explains, “Cobham in Surrey sits in the London commuter belt and as such is a highly desirable location. Currently, there are 20 sites within the small village that fit grey belt criteria as we understand it, and based on minimum standards each of these plots could yield at least six flats.”
This kind of precise data insight not only speeds up the development process but provides clarity on the feasibility and lucrative potential that these sites can deliver.
Join us for in-depth insights
To dive deeper into these features and explore how Nimbus can help you unlock further opportunities, why not join one of our upcoming webinars? Led by industry experts you’ll gain valuable insights and tips to master our platform – and your business.
At Nimbus, we’re here to ensure your property success, to learn more speak to one of our experts, or book a free, personalised demo.
