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Check Green Belt, Article 4 Directions, brownfield land, agricultural land classification, housing allocations and local plan policy for any UK site in one search — 22 official designation layers on a single map.
Green Belt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks all carry a strong presumption against inappropriate development, requiring "very special circumstances" or exceptional justification.
Article 4 Directions remove specific permitted development rights locally, while the Brownfield Land Register and site allocations flag land with a policy steer towards development.
Agricultural Land Classification grades, neighbourhood plan areas and local plan boundaries provide the wider policy context for how a site's use is likely to be judged.
Open the Planning Designations map on Maplify.
Search the site by postcode or address.
Enable the designation layers relevant to your question — Green Belt, Article 4, brownfield, or ALC.
Click each boundary to check its exact classification.
Cross-reference with the local authority's adopted Local Plan for policy detail.
A site on the edge of a town is checked for planning designations before a feasibility study:
Planning designation checks are often run alongside these related searches.
What planning designations does the map cover?
Green Belt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Parks, Agricultural Land Classification, Article 4 Directions, Brownfield Land Register, site allocations, neighbourhood plan areas and local plan boundaries, among 22 layers in total.
How do I check planning constraints for a site?
Search the site on Maplify and enable the planning designation layers relevant to your check — Green Belt and Article 4 for permitted development questions, or brownfield and site allocations for development potential.
What is an Article 4 Direction?
It removes specific permitted development rights in a defined area, meaning works that would normally not need planning permission — like some extensions or change of use — require a full application instead.
Is brownfield land automatically approved for housing?
No, but previously developed land on the Brownfield Land Register benefits from a planning policy presumption in favour of redevelopment for housing, which can make the planning process more favourable.
What is Best and Most Versatile agricultural land?
Grades 1, 2 and 3a on the Agricultural Land Classification are considered Best and Most Versatile and are protected under NPPF paragraph 174 — development on this land needs stronger justification.
Search any UK site to see all 22 planning designation layers in one view.
