Green Belt Gold? Developers Could Build 1.5 million Homes on Just 3% of Protected Land

The UK’s housing crisis is reaching boiling point, and everyone’s looking for solutions. But what about the Green Belt? Is it really off-limits, or could it be the key to unlocking a massive housing boom?

New analysis from property consultancy Carter Jonas has revealed that using a tiny proportion of the Green Belt could provide land for a whopping 1.5 million new homes. That’s less than 3% of the total Green Belt land, suggesting that the potential for development is significant without causing a huge impact on protected areas.

Green Belt Land vs. Development – The Numbers Speak for Themselves

Here’s a breakdown of the key figures:

Green Belt Development: Over the past two years, the Green Belt has grown by 1.6%, showing that it’s not being eroded quickly.
Overall Development: Just 6.8% of Green Belt land has been developed compared to 9.0% of non-Green Belt land, proving that it’s already subject to less development pressure.
Building Land: Only 1.2% of Green Belt land is currently used for buildings, compared to 2.5% of non-Green Belt land. The majority of Green Belt land is used for transportation and hardstanding, like car parks and paved areas.

Is it Time to Rethink the Green Belt?

David Churchill, partner at Carter Jonas, argues that using some Green Belt land for housing could actually be beneficial. He points out that:

Reducing Urban Sprawl: Releasing Green Belt land could reduce the need for developments that are further away from urban areas, meaning shorter commutes for residents and a smaller impact on the environment.
Creating New Open Spaces: New developments often include significant green spaces, which could potentially improve the quality of open spaces for everyone. These new spaces could be designed to focus on health, wellbeing, and biodiversity, making them more beneficial than the current untouched land.

Labour’s Proposal – The “Grey Belt”

Labour has suggested reclassifying some Green Belt areas as “grey belt,” which could allow for more development. This could be a significant move, and one that developers should be watching closely.

The Bottom Line – A Potential Goldmine?

For developers, this could be a game-changer. The potential for building new homes on a relatively small amount of Green Belt land is huge. But the question is, will the government allow it? The answer to that could determine the future of housing development in the UK.