TOPIC GUIDE: Green Belt
"We need to build on the Green Belt"
PUBLISHED: 31 Jan 2013
AUTHOR: Jason Smith
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INTRODUCTION
A green belt is an area surrounding a town or city where building development is restricted. The stated aim of green belt policy is to restrict the sprawl of built up areas on to previously undeveloped land and to preserve the character of historic towns [Ref: DEFRA]. The first green belts were introduced in the 1950s following the passing of the Town and Country Planning Act in 1947. Today, there are14 green belts around most of England’s bigger cities and amount to 1.65 million hectares, about 13 per cent of the country [Ref: Economist]. ‘Special areas of conservation’, ‘sites of special scientific interest’ and ‘areas of outstanding natural beauty’ account for a further 29.8 per cent of the country where development is restricted [Ref: bshf]. A new report by the think-tank Policy Exchange says that by contrast, “developed” land, which includes parks, allotments, golf courses and gardens as well as concrete, covers just 10.6% of England and they suggest relaxing the rules on new development [Ref: Policy Exchange]. Those who see problems with green belts point to London as an example. They argue that the 40-mile wide green belt around London strangles the life out of the capital - responsible for restricting economic growth, for the high cost of housing, and for encouraging the destruction of valuable green space within cities, such as playing fields, allotments and gardens. [Ref: Guardian]. Others say that green belts have been a success, saving the English countryside from being disfigured by unthinking development. They are concerned that short-term economic interests will lead us to desecrating our natural heritage and endangering our long-term wellbeing [Ref: Independent].
DEBATE IN CONTEXT
This section provides a summary of the key issues in the debate, set in the context of recent discussions and the competing positions that have been adopted.
Housing Crisis
House prices in the UK have almost doubled in the last decade and with prices now approaching eight times the average wage [Ref: Guardian]. Millions of people sit on council housing registers waiting for housing, and the age at which people buy their first home is rising – restricting opportunities for young people [Ref: Guardian]. Some have estimated that 232,000 new homes need to be built each year in England just to replace Britain’s ageing housing stock before we even consider building the extra homes people now need [Ref: spiked]. Given that over 90% of the UK population now live in cities, many ask how this problem will be tackled unless cities are allowed to expand. Others also argue that we have a romantic view of the green belts – that, rather than being chosen for its beauty or environmental qualities, much of it is used for intensive farming and light industry [Ref: Economist]. Since 2010, planning consents approvals have fallen by 24% - building more houses would help address homelessness, push down rents and house prices, and provide jobs for thousands who are currently on the dole [Ref: National Housing Federation]. Freeing up just 1% of green belt land alone could provide space for 300,000 new homes.
Access to green spaces
Opponents of relaxing regulations on green belt development counter that the countryside surrounding cities is a vital asset that gives city dwellers access to green open space, helps retain the unique character of cities, towns and villages, and is valuable and important farming land [Ref: Guardian]. They also point out the dangers flooding poses to housing built on new land – estimating that half of all houses built in Britain since WWII have been built on land vulnerable to flooding. Concreting over the countryside only risks exacerbating the problem [Ref: Telegraph]. Expanses of green space have environmental benefits, counteracting the ‘heat sinks’ of cities and enabling local food to be grown, thus reducing food miles. It is not green belts which are the cause of housing problems, they argue, but rather economic issues which are to blame [Ref: Telegraph].
Building on the brownfield
Protectors of the green belt don’t deny that new housing is not needed. Instead, they recommend building on “brownfield” land – building on previously used, now derelict land within cities. According to the Government’s own National Land Use Database, this brownfield land has space for over 1.5 million new dwellings [Ref: CPRE]. This isn’t always in the right place though – London needs approximately 1 million new homes to meet the demands of its growing population as well as addressing a backlog, yet only has 4,000 hectares of brownfield land – enough to meet around a fifth of this demand [Ref: Guardian]. Others look to addressing the demand side of housing – immigration puts pressure on housing stock and lower levels would reduce the need for so many new houses [Ref: Daily Mail]. Others point to elderly couples living alone in large family houses, and that encouraging them to downsize could free up housing for families [Ref: BBC News]. But critics of existing planning processes point to the severe restrictions home owners face when they are prevented from extending their homes on land they already own. These existing restrictions do not protect the countryside, it’s argued, and when people have been made to apply for retrospective permission for a child’s Wendy House in the back garden [Ref: Daily Mail] is it now time to review Green Belt restrictions?
ESSENTIAL READING
It is crucial for debaters to have read the articles in this section, which provide essential information and arguments for and against the debate motion. Students will be expected to have additional evidence and examples derived from independent research, but they can expect to be criticised if they lack a basic familiarity with the issues raised in the essential reading.
Is it time to rethink Britain’s green belt?
Rowan Moore Guardian 19 October 2014
The garden city movement: from Ebenezer to Ebbsfleet
Oliver Wainwright Guardian 17 March 2014
Green Belt: Under Renewed Threat?
Campaign to Protect Rural England August 2012
Economist 30 June 2012
FOR
Green belt is more likely to be wasteland than a slice of countryside
Paul Simons Guardian 22 February 2017
For a London a hundred miles wide
James Heartfield spiked 27 April 2016
We must build on the green belt to end this housing crisis
Juliet Samuel Telegraph 20 April 2016
We’ve got to dig up the green belt to build more homes
Tim Montgomery The Times 25 September 2015
Shire Tories and greens are denying Brits homes
James Heartfield spiked 20 September 2012
Economist 8 September 2012
The housing crisis: a nightmare caused by our sanctified suburban dreams
Ian Birrell Guardian 20 August 2012
London’s Green belt: the forgotten strangler of the capital
Colin Wiles Guardian 16 May 2012
AGAINST
Sajid Javid pledged the green belt was sacrosanct. To betray that would be sheer vandalism
Daily Mail 5 February 2017
The green belt must not be sacrificed for housing
Telegraph 4 February 2017
We need to abandon the delusion that it’s the green belt standing in the way of building more houses
Emma Bridgewater Telegraph 3 February 2017
The myth of the housing crisis
Simon Jenkins Spectator 28 February 2015
The bulldozers are coming for the Green Belt
Harry Wallop Telegraph 10 September 2012
Relaxing Planning Laws Will Damage British Housing
Marton Roberts Huffington Post 7 September 2012
The Government must stop the insults, and listen to our concerns
Fiona Reynolds Telegraph 3 September 2011
We must protect England’s green belts
Oliver Hilliam Guardian 28 July 2010
IN DEPTH
Department for communities and local government Gov.UK 7 February 2017
The green belt, a place for Londoners?
London First January 2015
When young people buy their own homes, they feel like citizens with a stake in society
Nick Pearce Observer 9 December 2012
Anger over plans to build on greenbelt
Jim Pickard Financial Times 23 September 2012
KEY TERMS
Definitions of key concepts that are crucial for understanding the topic. Students should be familiar with these terms and the different ways in which they are used and interpreted and should be prepared to explain their significance.
BACKGROUNDERS
Useful websites and materials that provide a good starting point for research.
Where is the world’s most sprawling city?
Douglas Murray Guardian 19 April 2017
Britain’s delusions about the green belt cause untold misery
Economist 11 February 2017
The green belt is strangling our towns and cities
James Heartfield spiked 10 February 2017
Government has missed an opportunity to loosen the green belt
Ben Rochelle Huffington Post 10 February 2017
Let’s make the best of the homes we have
Alice Thomson The Times 8 February 2017
Should Britain build on it’s green spaces to solve the housing crisis?
Alister Scott Independent 8 February 2017
The curse of urban sprawl: how cities grow, and why this has to change
Mark Swilling Guardian 12 July 2016
Brownfield land won’t be enough to solve London housing crisis
Sam Bowman Londonist January 2016
Forget new homes, we are not making the most of what we have
Simon Jenkins Evening Standard 6 October 2015
Bill Bryson The Times 30 September 2015
Britain’s housing crisis: are garden cities the answer?
Patrick Barkham Guardian 1 October 2014
Build new homes on brownfield land
Eric Pickles Telegraph 13 June 2014
Six reasons why we should build on the green belt
Colin Wiles Guardian 21 May 2014
The green belt sacred cow: it pens in the poor for no environmental gain
Paul Cheshire City A.M 11 November 2013
High rise living is the only way to protect the green belt
Hannah Fearn Guardian 13 September 2013
Build more houses on the countryside? I’ve got a better plan
Michelle Hanson Guardian 11 December 2012
In Britain, everyone has a place in the country
Roger Scruton Telegraph 1 December 2012
How permanent is your Green Belt?
Tim Stansfeld Planning 27 November 2012
Pay residents to accept building on Green Belt
Tim Ross Telegraph 13 September 2012
Govt need to U-turn on planning
Craig Bennett Politics.co.uk 9 September 2012
Ending Expensive Social Tenancies: Fairness, higher growth and more homes
Alex Morton Policy Exchange 20 August 2012
The green belt isn’t as green and pleasant as you’d think
Isabel Hardman Spectator 17 August 2012
Protect our green and pleasant land
Independent 21 March 2012
Protect our green and pleasant land
Independent 21 March 2012
Adam Smith Institute 8 March 2012
Britain needs more houses, but it doesn’t need them everywhere
Andrew Carter Centre for Cities 23 January 2012
What would Britain look like without a green belt?
BBC News 15 September 2011
Wikipedia
Build on the green belt, and build now UK land directory
Land Directory
Suburbia has never had a good reputation
Tim Leunig Inside Housing
ORGANISATIONS
Links to organisations, campaign groups and official bodies who are referenced within the Topic Guide or which will be of use in providing additional research information.
IN THE NEWS
Relevant recent news stories from a variety of sources, which ensure students have an up to date awareness of the state of the debate.
House price growth hits 12 year high in some northern cities
Telegraph 28 April 2017
Build on the green belt to boost the economy, OECD tells Britain
Telegraph 17 March 2017
Loophole opens way for green belt homes
The Times 13 February 2017
Housing minister vows building on green belt land is not the way to solve the shortage of homes
Evening Standard 5 February 2017
PM to reaffirm green belt pledge despite plans to ramp up house building
Guardian 5 February 2017
Housing minister vows building on green belt land is not the way to solve shortage of homes
Evening Standard 5 February 2017
Ministers shelve plans to bulldoze the green belt
Daily Mail 21 January 2017
English green belt set to get 360000 new homes
Guardian 15 January 2017
Fourteen garden villages to be built in England totalling 48,000 homes
Guardian 2 January 2017
Theresa May faces forceful Tory opposition over plans to build on the Green belt
Huffington Post 13 December 2016
Housing crisis: ministers to urge councils to build on green belt land
Telegraph 26 November 2016
Government cuts funding for making brownfield sites suitable for new homes
Guardian 2 June 2016
New homes eroding green belt ‘at fastest rate for 20 years’
Guardian 25 April 2016
Build on the green belt to solve housing crisis, say developers
Independent 10 July 2015
Labour architect peer says building on green belt ‘a ridiculous idea’
Guardian 8 September 2014
Why Surrey has more land for golf courses than for homes
Guardian 26 April 2014
Northern leg of HS2 ‘will slice through north Warwickshire country parks’
Coventry Telegraph 29 January 2013
Anger over plans to develop Reigate green belt
Surrey Today 23 January 2013
Archbishop of Canterbury asked to save greenbelt land
BBC News 10 January 2013
UK needs more houses not higher benefits, thinktank says
Guardian 22 December 2012
Sprawl threatens to engulf England’s heart
Telegraph 25 November 2012
Countryside threatened by new planning rules
Telegraph 4 November 2012
Free up green-belt land for new housing, says Policy Exchange
Guardian 13 September 2012
We need to build houses on a third more land, says planning minister
Guardian 20 August 2012
Radical plan to create new Midlands city on green belt land to cope with population growth
Daily Mail 26 March 2012
Hands off our land: Build on the greenbelt says Cameron thinktank
Telegraph 23 November 2011
750,000 homes to be built on England’s Green Belt
Telegraph 13 August 2011
AUDIO/VISUAL
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