The non-urban area of Inverclyde, which was previously designated as Green Belt in its entirety, is divided in the Final Draft Plan into two separate policy areas:

• The Green Belt, immediately out with Inverclyde's settlements. The Plan seeks to PREVENT development in this area
• The Countryside, being the area beyond the outer edge of the Green Belt. The Plan seeks to CONTROL the types of development allowed in these areas.

The prevention and control of development in the Green Belt and Countryside assists a PRIMARY objective of the Local Plan, that being to direct development to BROWNFIELD land in preference to GREENFIELD land.