The Cheltenham Green Belt was first established to preserve the open character of the land between
Cheltenham and Gloucester, preventing the separate communities from merging with
each other.
The primary role of the Cheltenham Green Belt, as identified by policies included in
I) To avoid the erosion of the landscape by preventing urban sprawl, sporadic,
undesirable and inappropriate development and uses;
II) To protect and improve the open character of the countryside between
Cheltenham and Gloucester and later Bishop's Cleeve, and to secure a high
standard of visual amenity in the landscape of this area;
III) To preserve the special character of the individual towns by preventing their
coalescence; and
IV) To confirm a long-term agricultural future by reducing uncertainty, thus
providing security for agricultural investment.
