The website for Camden and District Gardeners

An Article 4 Direction is an order made by a local planning authority to remove certain permitted development rights in all, or part of, its area. It is not a conservation designation as such. When adopted, the effect of the Article 4 Direction is that planning permission is required for certain types of development that would not otherwise require an application for planning permission.

This is an Act to register common land, town greens, and village greens in England and Wales and the rights people have in, or over, the common land jointly with another or others. Town and village greens are defined as land that:

1. which has been allotted by or under any Act for the exercise or recreation of the inhabitants of any locality
2. or on which the inhabitants of any locality have a customary right to indulge in lawful sports and pastimes
3. or if it is land on which for not fewer than twenty years a significant number of the inhabitants of any locality, or of any neighbourhood within a locality, have indulged in lawful sports and pastimes as of right.

The Green Belt is intended to check further growth of large built up areas (urban sprawl), to prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one another, and to preserve the special character of towns. Its principles are set out in the February 2019 National Planning Policy Framework (Section 13 – paras 133 – 147).

Inside a Green Belt, approval should neither be given, except in very special circumstances, for the construction of new buildings, or for the change of use of existing buildings, nor for purposes other than agriculture, sport, cemeteries, institutions standing in extensive grounds, or other uses appropriate to a rural area.

Sites are judged against a list of eight key criteria. These are:

• A Welcoming Place - Safe and equal access for everyone demonstrating a cared-for place.
• Healthy, Safe and Secure - Safe equipment and facilities to reduce risk of personal harm.
• Clean and Well Maintained - Buildings, grounds and equipment appropriately maintained.
• Environmental Management - Environmental impact through reduced resource consumption.
• Biodiversity, Landscape and Heritage - Natural and historic features and their management.
• Community Involvement - Participation of local and wider community.
• Marketing and Communication - Understanding the key benefits of the site and how this information is used promote it appropriately.
• Management/Achievements - Project achievements through a green space management plan.

Green Heritage Site Accreditation is given in recognition of achieving the required standard in the management and interpretation of a site with local or national historic importance. To receive Green Heritage Site Accreditation sites must be at least 30 years old and also achieve a Green Flag Award.

Sites are judged against a list of criteria. The judges look at the extent to which sites understand, acknowledge and share its heritage value, how it's conserved and enhanced the site and also it helps people enjoy its heritage value.

Sites are judged against a list of seven key criteria. These are:

• A Welcoming Place - Safe and equal access for everyone demonstrating a cared-for place.
• Healthy, Safe and Secure - Safe equipment and facilities to reduce risk of personal harm.
• Clean and Well Maintained - Buildings, grounds and equipment appropriately maintained.
• Environmental Management - Environmental impact through reduced resource consumption.
• Biodiversity, Landscape and Heritage - Natural and historic features and their management.
• Community Involvement - Participation of local and wider community.
• Management/Achievements - Project achievements through a green space management plan.

This is an Act to provide for the preservation and for restricting the user of certain squares, gardens and enclosures in London.

It limits the use of London Squares to 'ornamental pleasure grounds or grounds for play, rest and recreation', and the only buildings and structures allowed are those which are 'necessary or convenient for, and in connection with, the use and maintenance of such squares.'

Land designated as Metropolitan Open Land is afforded the same level of protection as Green Belt. The designation is intended to protect areas of landscape, recreation, nature conservation and scientific interest which are strategically important and which satisfies at least one of the following criteria

1. land that contributes to the physical structure of London by being clearly distinguishable from the built-up area
2. land that includes open air facilities, especially for leisure, recreation, sport, arts and cultural activities and tourism which serve the whole or significant parts of London
3. land that contains features or landscapes of historic, recreational, nature conservation or habitat interest, of value at a metropolitan or national level;
4. land that forms part of a green chain and meets one of the criteria 1-3.

The majority of allotment sites are owned by local authorities and may be termed 'statutory' or 'temporary' where: 'statutory' allotment land is land of which the freehold or very long lease is vested in the allotments authority, and which was either originally purchased for allotments or subsequently appropriated for allotment use. 'Temporary' allotment land is rented by an allotments authority or owned by the authority but ultimately destined for some other use.

The designation of a local authority site as 'temporary' or 'statutory' is particularly important since, under section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925, a local authority must seek permission from the Secretary of State before selling or changing the use of a 'statutory' site. The local authority must satisfy the Secretary of State that adequate provision has been made for allotment holders who are displaced by the sale of the site.