The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), the professional body for urban planners in the UK, has started a debate about the future of green belt policy.
The UK greenbelt planning policy is intended to try to prevent urban sprawl by placing a policy barrier around urban areas within which development is only acceptable in extremis. In an island the size of Britain the protection of green space and countryside between towns provides a valuable "breathing space" between urban areas. Green belts help to prevent the coalescence of towns and cities. However the UK government has allowed over 100 large schemes to be developed in the green belts in the last 4 years to the anger of environmental groups. The RTPI is sparking public debate on the issue by saying that greenbelt should not necessarily be sacrosanct.
Thanks to Jon Barker
FULL STORY: Town Planners Urge Greenbelt Review
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