A recent High Court decision has highlighted a change in the application of Green Belt policy since the publication of the NPPF. In the case of Redhill Aerodrome v Secretary of State for DCLG, Tandbridge and Reigate & Banstead BC (18 July 2014); Justice Patterson quashed the decision of an Inspector to dismiss an appeal to expand Redhill Aerodrome which is located within the Green Belt.

In the original appeal decision, the Inspector gave additional weight to the harm arising from noise, landscape and visual impact, because the site was located within the Green Belt. However, Justice Patterson found that these non-Green Belt harms should not have been given additional weight either individually or cumulatively and should have been assessed according to the guidance within the NPPF.

The judge also clearly states that this is a change in policy since the NPPF was published, where previously additional weight could be given to ‘any other harm’ when determining an application or appeal in the Green Belt.