Greenbelt in the News

10 June 2016: Is it really time to start building on the green belt?

Tony Mulhall, Associate Director Land Professional Group of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), asks this provocative question citing our project and drawing implications about densification and development in relation to housing demands in London.

Click here to access the article. 

25 April 2016: New homes eroding green belt 'at fastest rate for 20 years'

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) on the The Guardian speaking of the 55,000 new builds that have come up on the green belt in the past year. They claim 'London and the West Midlands under particular threat'. 

Click here to access the article. 

March 2016: Outer London Commission Seventh Report: accommodating london’s growth

The Outer London Commission puts forth recommendations on the role the Green Belt may play in accomodating London's growth. They suggest that selective release and review of Green Belt land alongside broader strategies for changes in Green Belt policy.

Click here to access the report.

February 2016: When Brownfield isn’t Enough; Strategic Options for London’s Growth

This report addresses the popular theory that developing brownfield land is the solution for London's housing woes. It documents London's shortage of vast swathes of vacant brownfield since 'almost all of London’s brownfield is already in use, or is already part of plans for new housing'.

Click here to access the report.

January 2016: A garden of one’s own: Suggestions for development in the metropolitan Green Belt

Tom Papworth looks at six scenarios to identify where developments could take place. The paper also identifies specific areas where tens of thousands of dwellings can be built.

Click here to access the report.

October 2015: Mega Planning: Beyond 2050 – MegaPlan for a MegaCity

GL Hearn’s plan for the future of London and the rise of its population to 10 million inhabitants. This plan was selected by New London Architecture as one of the top 10 ideas to help solve the London housing shortage.

Click here to access the document.

August 2015: Green Belt myths: CPRE's guide to what you need to know

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) puts forth their views on the green belt. They point out what they perceive to be myths based on 'selective reading of the relevant evidence'. 

Click here to access the document.

7 July 2016: Big Bold Global Connected London 2065

This is a manifesto outlining AECOM’s vision of the future of London. They argue that the Metropolitan Green Belt needs to modernise in order for London to remain competitive on a global scale.

Click here to access the report.

February 2015: The Green Belt: A place for Londoners? 

A report on London First, Quod and SERC to encourage Green Belt review by Local Authorities and to give a better understanding specific definitions of the London's Green Belt. 

Click here to access the report.

January 2015: Population Growth in London, 1939-2015 

This document provides a summary of the population trends in London from 1939 to 2015. They detail a trajectory of population size and shifts over time. This is relevant to our Green Belt project seeing as population changes impact housing needs.

Click here to access the document.

November 2014: Planning Advisory Service/ No5 Chambers. Plan-Making Case Law Update, Main Issue 4: Green Belt.

“This document forms part of a series of 4 documents providing updates on case law in the plan-making sphere, accompanied by the relevant Official Transcripts.” These documents are only meant to serve as general guides.

Click here to access the report. 

9 July 2014: Building on Greenbelt land: so where?

Prof Paul Cheschire follows up on Barney Stringer's (see below) comment on the urgent need to start building on the green belt. The question is where? He takes up this question in this blog entry for Spatial Economics Research Centre.

Click here to access the blog.

20 August 2014: London’s refusal to build on green belt land causes concern among neighbours

Matthew Spry and Bethan Haynes write about the leapfrog implications of maintaining the Green Belt around London. The article discusses how extra homes may be needed to keep up with population growth.

Click  here to access the article. 

June 2014: Is the Green Belt sustainable?

Barney Stringer examines the Green Belt within 10 minutes walk of a station. 'Is it time the debate about the Green Belt got specific? It may have a part to play in solving the housing crisis, but only if we can make the really hard site-by-site decisions about where. This post aims to help start that debate on specifics, with a map you can explore'.

Click here to access the blog. 

20 May 2014: Housing's undersupply is set to continue

Susan Emmett writes for Savills about the expanding population with the boundaries of London's 32 boroughs and its implictions for Green Belt land considering the development restrictions. A careful balance between housing needs and an sensible Green Belt policy is advocated for in this piece.

Click here to access the article.

September 2013: New estimates of housing demand and need in England, 2011 to 2031

“This paper provides estimates of the number of households, housing requirements, and the split between market and social/affordable housing at national and regional levels.”

Click here to access the article.

June 2009: Brownfield market signals: Greenfield housing land supply and the viability of brownfield housing developments

This study seeks to understand the interactions between local land markets and how development sites compete for investment as a way to explore the potential of brownfield sites.

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December 2015: Consultation on proposed changes to national planning policy

This consultation from the Department for Communities and Local Government addresses the case for starter homes and brownfield in the Green Belt. 

Click here to access the document.

November 2014: From wasted space to living spaces: The availability of brownfield land for housing development in England

This article makes the argument regarding the availability of brownfield in England for housing development. This comes from data that councils have gathered on the capacity for at least 1 million homes in brownfield sites.

Click here to access the article.

October 2014: Delivering change: Building homes where we need them

Centre for Cities addresses the question of green belts and their role in urban life. 'Many of Britain’s least affordable cities do not have enough brownfield land, that is suitable for housing, to meet their needs. Cities need to be bold in using their powers to identify green belt land that is well connected but of poor quality – not all green belt is green – or has little value to the local community and re-designate it for housing'.

Click here to access the report.

August 2014: Uxcester: Garden city

In this essay, URBED describes a plan to create a fictional garden city with a population of almost 400,000 people which would double its current population size. This fictional city is based on a real city, or perhaps more accurate an amalgam of cities with 'long histories, established institutions and settled communities'.

Click here to access the document.

April 2014:The TCPA Garden City Principles 

The Town and Country Planning Association outlines holistic principles on the purposes of a garden city. They argue it should enhance 'the natural environment and provides high-quality social housing and local jobs in a beautiful, healthy place with diverse communities.

Click here to access the report. 

March 2014: Better places to live by design: companion guide to planning policy guidance 3

“Better places to live challenges local authorities and developers to think more imaginatively about design and layout. It is not a manual to be applied by rote or a substitute for using skilled designers. It is about promoting greater flair in creating better places in which to live.”

Click here to access the document.

27 March 2012: National Planning Policy Framework

The framework acts as guidance for local planning authorities and decision-takers, both in drawing up plans and making decisions about planning applications. This also sets the policies and purposes for the Green Belts in England. 

Click here to access the document.

February 2010: A Natural England survey into public attitudes towards the Green Belt

This Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) conducted 1754 interviews that covered Green Belt land aspects in England such as: awareness and attitutes; perceived importance; usage and future use. This report is a product of that research project.

Click here to access the document.

November 2005: Towards a Strong Urban Renaissance, Urban Task Force

Professor Sir Peter Hall writes a footnote in this report objecting to the need to protect greenfield land, noting that current policy hinders the development of needed housing in South East England.

Click here to access the report and read the footnote.

17 June 2016:  Invisible green belts in Beijing:   From romantic landscape to businesses opportunity

The green belt may be a British idea imported to China but the concept has worked out to be very different in practice. In the context of Beijing’s urbanisation, it turns out that the local state uses the ecological discourse of the green belt to legitimate its land businesses. Despite the differences, Yimin Zhao writes about the lessons from China for Britain.

Click here to read the blog.