Metropolitan Green Belt

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The Metropolitan Green Belt is a legally protected ring around London. It covers parts of Greater London and nearby counties, including Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, and Surrey, with small areas in Bedfordshire and Sussex. In total it spans about 514,000 hectares (1.27 million acres), roughly three times the size of London.

Its main purpose is to stop London from spreading into the countryside, to prevent nearby towns from merging, and to keep space for parks, farms, and recreation. Land inside the belt can be used for farming, reservoirs, golf courses, and limited development, but new housing is mainly built outside the belt. Local councils can release small areas of belt land only under exceptional circumstances in their planning plans.

The idea for a green belt grew in the 20th century, with key planning work in the 1940s. The 1944 Greater London Plan proposed a belt up to about 6 miles wide. After World War II, the government promoted green belts as part of housing and planning policy, including the New Towns Act of 1946 and Circular 42/55. In 1971 the belt was extended north to include most of Hertfordshire. Today it covers parts of 68 districts and reaches out several miles in places, stretching toward areas like the Surrey Hills, the Chilterns, and Epping Forest.

Since 1976, some areas have extra protection as Metropolitan Open Land. Local authorities may release small amounts of belt land in their plans only under exceptional circumstances.

Public debate about the belt continues. Some people argue for more housing within or near the belt, while others worry about traffic, pollution, and loss of green space. Studies and reports show mixed views on housing, prices, and commuting, reflecting different priorities between development and conservation.

As of recent years, the belt remains a strong symbol of trying to balance urban growth with the protection of countryside, open space, and the character of surrounding towns.