Revived or retired, the green belt must be rethought

Abstract

Urban containment policies exist worldwide to restrict the expansion of settlements. England’s green belt is one such policy mechanism. Gaining popularity from the late 19th century onwards, local authorities have been able to designate green belt since 1955. The concept has proven popular with members of the general public and, as of March 2018, England’s green belt extended to 1,629,510 hectares (approximately 12.5 per cent of the nation’s land area).1 There are some who contend that the green belt should be sacrosanct. This paper makes the opposite case. It is predicated on the view that public policy should be adaptable and that the emphasis should be firmly on securing the best outcomes. It should be possible to consider both whether the overall effects are beneficial and whether there is scope for improvement. If opportunities exist to deliver development more sustainably, the ability to explore and realise this should not be prevented by dogmatic defence of the status quo. England’s green belt should not be off the table for appraisal and, if appropriate, amendment.