Green Wedges comprise the open areas around, and between, parts of settlements which maintain the distinction between the countryside and built-up areas, prevent the coalescence of adjacent places and can also provide recreational opportunities.
Green Wedges are an urban containment mechanism intended to restrict the spread of built development beyond prescribed settlement boundaries and allocated sites. The designation, which unlike Green Belts*, is a non-statutory one, does however add an additional layer of protection to those areas where it is considered that development pressure exists or will exist during the lifetime of a local development plan.
*Wales currently has only one formally designated green belt area which is located between Newport and Cardiff.