Green belts have performed an important role in preventing urban sprawl and protecting the countryside for 50 years and Government have no plans to change its policy on the green belt set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2. Green belt boundary reviews are matters for local planning authorities and regional planning bodies. Boundaries can only be changed in exceptional circumstances and after public consultation and public inquiry through the development plan process. Nationally, the amount of green belt land continues to grow, with an 80,000 acre increase since 1997.
The relevant policies in draft regional spatial strategies which currently refer to green belt land are as follows:
North East—Policy 6.5
http://www.gos.gov.uk/gone/ourregion/regional_strategies/
North West—Policy RDF5
http://www.gos.gov.uk/gonw/Planning/RegionalPlanning/
Yorkshire and Humber —Policy YH9
http://www.yhassembly.gov.uk/News/2007/Assemblv %20welcomes%20publication%20of%20RSS%20 panel%20report/
East Midlands—Policy 27
http://www.gos.gov.uk/goem/psc/suscom/rss/eastmidlandsplan/
West Midlands
West Midlands Phase 1—no reference to green belt
West Midlands Phase 2—no reference to green belt
West Midlands Phase 3—currently under preparation
http://www.wmra.gov.uk/page.asp?id=47
East of England—Policy SS7
http://www.eera.gov.uk/category.asp?cat=120
South East—Policy CCl0a
http://www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/southeastplan/plan/view_ plan.html
South West—Policy 3.35
http://www.southwest-ra.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=836 (Draft)
London—No review of the green belt proposed
http://www.london.gov.uk/thelondonplan/