Stevenage includes the town centre, Old Stevenage, and Chells. About 6.9% of the district is Green Belt, framing urban edges and protecting surrounding countryside. Known for its post-war new town layout, industrial areas, and residential communities, planning focuses on residential, commercial, and conversion projects.
In the last year Stevenage decided 266 applications which is well below the national average of 988. The approval rate was 94% (marginally above the national average of 88%) and 86% of applications were decided on time, (significantly above the national average of 59%). Stats updated March 2026 from gov. sources. See how Stevenage performs relative to other LPAs in our LPA hub.
6.9% of Stevenage is within the Green Belt and proposals in these areas can be subject to reasonable levels of scrutiny.
The Stevenage Green Belt protects surrounding villages such as Knebworth, Aston, and Walkern, preserving arable farmland, historic parkland landscapes, and the rural setting between settlements, which are highly sensitive to development pressure and play a key role in preventing coalescence along the A1(M) corridor.
In our experience, one of the top reasons poorly conceived Green Belt proposals are refused is causing 'harm to openness'. We can lower the risk of refusal with site-specific guidance. Contact us here.
You can also check whether your land is within the Green Belt using our interactive Green Belt map.
In addition to acting as Planing Conultants we are ARB registered architects with 25+ years of experience. We provide a full range of planning services, including:
Creative architectural design is often what secures Planning Permission where standard approaches fall short. Tell us about your project.
Stevenage includes the town centre, Old Stevenage, and Chells. About 6.9% of the district is Green Belt, framing urban edges and protecting surrounding countryside. Known for its post-war new town layout, industrial areas, and residential communities, planning focuses on residential, commercial, and conversion projects.
In the last year Stevenage decided 266 applications which is well below the national average of 988. The approval rate was 94% (marginally above the national average of 88%) and 86% of applications were decided on time, (significantly above the national average of 59%). Stats updated March 2026 from gov. sources. See how Stevenage performs relative to other LPAs in our LPA hub.
6.9% of Stevenage is within the Green Belt and proposals in these areas can be subject to reasonable levels of scrutiny.
The Stevenage Green Belt protects surrounding villages such as Knebworth, Aston, and Walkern, preserving arable farmland, historic parkland landscapes, and the rural setting between settlements, which are highly sensitive to development pressure and play a key role in preventing coalescence along the A1(M) corridor.
In our experience, one of the top reasons poorly conceived Green Belt proposals are refused is causing 'harm to openness'. We can lower the risk of refusal with site-specific guidance. Contact us here.
You can also check whether your land is within the Green Belt using our interactive Green Belt map.
In addition to acting as Planing Conultants we are ARB registered architects with 25+ years of experience. We provide a full range of planning services, including:
Creative architectural design is often what secures Planning Permission where standard approaches fall short. Tell us about your project.
