They’re a good idea in theory, but in practice those greenbelts include alot of dilapidated buildings and former industrial land that would be ideal for developing without sacrificing green spaces. But because of how they’re labelled it’s alot more work to get permission to build there.
Fraisey on
I had no idea there were so many aspiring martial artists in England.
Joey_All_Bran on
Why has Bath been labelled as Keynsham? Keynsham is the much smaller urban area between Bristol and Bath.
Anxious-Bottle7468 on
AKA the green noose.
upthetruth1 on
Without the green belt, there’d be no Milton Keynes
KittyCatTyper on
The government has recently passed a law changing the definition of greenbelt and removing many of its prior protections. Now if land is near a train connections they can build homes on greenbelt land but theyre still required to prevent the increase of further expansion, keeping the idea of greenbelt to its core concept back in the 1930s. The Grey belt map created by local areas should be released later this year.
johnny_briggs on
Can we not push Sunderland out into the sea to create some more green belt? I mean it’s right there.
fuck_your_worldview on
Keynsham feels a bit odd to be shown here, feel like its easily the least well known settlement shown and several of the towns around london not labelled would be more notable
intangible-tangerine on
Keynsham is in the wrong place. The part labelled Keynsham is actually Bath. Kenysham is that white splodge just outside of Bristol.
You can see clearly on this map.
[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Avon_Green_Belt.svg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Avon_Green_Belt.svg)
R0ckandr0ll_318 on
Ah green belts. The method to block more housing and force up prices
recordcollection64 on
NIMBY* belts in England
cgyguy81 on
This is why you won’t find any US-style suburbia in the UK. A lot of new developments are being built on brownfield sites.
Kernowder on
The one around Stoke is actually an exclusion zone.
Firstpoet on
The UK has approx 10 sq kilometres of defined wilderness. The Flow Country in Caithness.
That’s all.
opaqueentity on
People do need to realise what a green belt is and what it isn’t. They are very different from people’s expectations
Turbo-Badger on
You’d be surprised how many people think any land that isn’t developed already is Green Belt and should be protected at all cost
thanasis87kav on
Birmingham metro is as large as London’s
_fluffy_raptor on
Sorry to break this to Bristol redditors but a lot of that green space in Brislington has just been or is about to be sold off for development:
And can’t post the pic but we had a flyer posted through my letterbox late last week, showing expansive plans for the meadow around me.
If you thought the Bath Road was busy before, you’ve seen NOTHING yet.
Emergency_Hotel_25 on
maps like this always make me realize how little i actually know about geography. i once tried explaining where cities were in england and immediately embarrassed myself
BrummieBandeja on
It’s a great idea in principle, but it chokes the life out of cities. I’m from Birmingham, and it’s extremely difficult to find housing, we have a massive population, we can’t build further outwards and the council won’t allow (more than a few) high rise skyscrapers.
AppropriateReason128 on
Thats depressing
Saoirse_libracom on
Peterbrough has one
MrCleanWindows87 on
not sure thats entirely true theres alot missing
BiologicalMigrant on
What are they?
goddamnmanxhild on
The Cornish finally got what they want, to not be part of England
JeremyGunt on
Didn’t know the push for continuous improvement was this big
icrossfield on
Would be good to also overlay the national parks.
antdd_c on
Always worth noting that Golf Courses count as part of the green belt. Not all green belt land is equal in terms of public use and impact on the environment
wookiewithabrush on
Still building on green belt in Worcestershire though
Billy_McMedic on
Huh, didn’t really know about the Greenbelt in Tyne and Wear, was wondering why the Sunderland and Newcastle Metro Areas never really combined fully, with a narrow strip of undeveloped land separating the two, now I know.
Honestly seems a bit of a waste that greenbelt separating the 2, it’s narrow and doesn’t really have all that much going on, not like a big national park or anything and I really can’t see the harm in just letting Tyne and Wear turning into one contiguous metro area by removing that narrow strip separating Gateshead/South Shields from Sunderland, would help a lot with increasing housing stock.
Happy_Disaster7347 on
Holy shit reddit has it’s own town in England?
kh_ram on
Build public housing on green belts. Can’t enjoy the countryside if your basic needs aren’t met. Public only, not private, this sacrifice should be made for good only, not profit.
AnAncientOne on
Wonder if ditching them would encourage some growth, less red tape.
Patch86UK on
The fact that Oxford and Cambridge have enormous green belts while none of the larger towns and cities surrounding them do tells you everything you need to know about what a batshit crazy system it is.
Basically drawn up based on pure vibes and long forgotten local council politics 70 years ago, with absolutely no logic or connection to today’s world. But anyone who suggests changing them gets the wrath of the NIMBYs in full force.
36 Comments
TIL there’s a town in England named Redditch
One of the most damaging policies ever enacted.
They’re a good idea in theory, but in practice those greenbelts include alot of dilapidated buildings and former industrial land that would be ideal for developing without sacrificing green spaces. But because of how they’re labelled it’s alot more work to get permission to build there.
I had no idea there were so many aspiring martial artists in England.
Why has Bath been labelled as Keynsham? Keynsham is the much smaller urban area between Bristol and Bath.
AKA the green noose.
Without the green belt, there’d be no Milton Keynes
The government has recently passed a law changing the definition of greenbelt and removing many of its prior protections. Now if land is near a train connections they can build homes on greenbelt land but theyre still required to prevent the increase of further expansion, keeping the idea of greenbelt to its core concept back in the 1930s. The Grey belt map created by local areas should be released later this year.
Can we not push Sunderland out into the sea to create some more green belt? I mean it’s right there.
Keynsham feels a bit odd to be shown here, feel like its easily the least well known settlement shown and several of the towns around london not labelled would be more notable
Keynsham is in the wrong place. The part labelled Keynsham is actually Bath. Kenysham is that white splodge just outside of Bristol.
You can see clearly on this map.
[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Avon_Green_Belt.svg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Avon_Green_Belt.svg)
Ah green belts. The method to block more housing and force up prices
NIMBY* belts in England
This is why you won’t find any US-style suburbia in the UK. A lot of new developments are being built on brownfield sites.
The one around Stoke is actually an exclusion zone.
The UK has approx 10 sq kilometres of defined wilderness. The Flow Country in Caithness.
That’s all.
People do need to realise what a green belt is and what it isn’t. They are very different from people’s expectations
You’d be surprised how many people think any land that isn’t developed already is Green Belt and should be protected at all cost
Birmingham metro is as large as London’s
Sorry to break this to Bristol redditors but a lot of that green space in Brislington has just been or is about to be sold off for development:
https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2026-03-11/controversial-plans-to-build-homes-on-historic-grassland-set-to-be-approved
And can’t post the pic but we had a flyer posted through my letterbox late last week, showing expansive plans for the meadow around me.
If you thought the Bath Road was busy before, you’ve seen NOTHING yet.
maps like this always make me realize how little i actually know about geography. i once tried explaining where cities were in england and immediately embarrassed myself
It’s a great idea in principle, but it chokes the life out of cities. I’m from Birmingham, and it’s extremely difficult to find housing, we have a massive population, we can’t build further outwards and the council won’t allow (more than a few) high rise skyscrapers.
Thats depressing
Peterbrough has one
not sure thats entirely true theres alot missing
What are they?
The Cornish finally got what they want, to not be part of England
Didn’t know the push for continuous improvement was this big
Would be good to also overlay the national parks.
Always worth noting that Golf Courses count as part of the green belt. Not all green belt land is equal in terms of public use and impact on the environment
Still building on green belt in Worcestershire though
Huh, didn’t really know about the Greenbelt in Tyne and Wear, was wondering why the Sunderland and Newcastle Metro Areas never really combined fully, with a narrow strip of undeveloped land separating the two, now I know.
Honestly seems a bit of a waste that greenbelt separating the 2, it’s narrow and doesn’t really have all that much going on, not like a big national park or anything and I really can’t see the harm in just letting Tyne and Wear turning into one contiguous metro area by removing that narrow strip separating Gateshead/South Shields from Sunderland, would help a lot with increasing housing stock.
Holy shit reddit has it’s own town in England?
Build public housing on green belts. Can’t enjoy the countryside if your basic needs aren’t met. Public only, not private, this sacrifice should be made for good only, not profit.
Wonder if ditching them would encourage some growth, less red tape.
The fact that Oxford and Cambridge have enormous green belts while none of the larger towns and cities surrounding them do tells you everything you need to know about what a batshit crazy system it is.
Basically drawn up based on pure vibes and long forgotten local council politics 70 years ago, with absolutely no logic or connection to today’s world. But anyone who suggests changing them gets the wrath of the NIMBYs in full force.