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Green Belts

Green Belts
Green Belts give us a place to relax and enjoy the countryside. Photo: Campaign Against Stevenage Expansion

England’s fourteen Green Belts cover nearly 13% of England, significant not only because of their extent, but because they provide a breath of fresh air for 88% of the population – 45 million people – living in the urban areas within Green Belt boundaries.

Purpose of Green Belts:
  • Protect the countryside from urban sprawl
  • Stop towns from merging into each other
  • Encourage urban regeneration
  • Protect the countryside setting of historic towns and cities

In the face of ever increasing pressures on land use, it is vital to safeguard the benefits of the Green Belts that we have. Since 1995 Green Belt policy has also sought to encourage the provision of valuable services for society such as recreation and attractive landscapes, improving damaged and derelict land, securing nature conservation and retaining farming and forestry.

Green Belt facts

  • There are 14 separate Green Belts in England. There are Green Belts in every region, but not in every county.
  • Green Belts cover roughly 13% of England, or 1.671 million hectares.
  • The largest Green Belt is the London Green Belt, at about 486,000 hectares. The smallest Green Belt is the Burton-Swadlincote Green Belt at just 700 hectares.
  • The oldest Green Belt is the London Green Belt. It was established in 1938. The newest Green Belt is the Durham Green Belt.

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