Multi reference CASSCF/NEVPT2 wavefunction calculations on planar cis‐[MA2B2] complexes show that large dxz/dyz splittings are a feature of the symmetry of the ligand field and are not due to the Orgel effect or phase coupled ligation as previously proposed based on the MO version of the angular overlap model. Instead, the splitting can be attributed to the π components of the local ligand fields in the “void” regions above and below the molecular plane. The potential in these regions is lower than the d orbital barycentre leading to negative parameter values which is fully consistent with the cellular ligand field interpretation of ligand field theory. The wider implications of ligand field effects from coordination voids are considered.