§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much the area of approved green belt has increased between 1979 and 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyThe extent of the approved green belt in England has more than doubled since 1979. In broad terms about 1.8 million acres were approved by 1979 and the figure is now about 4.5 million acres. Estimated figures for each green belt are set out in the table.
The general extent of each green belt is indicated in county structure plans. The detailed boundaries are defined in local plans, where they exist, or in old style development plans. In some areas the detailed boundaries have not yet been settled. For these reasons the figures in the table are approximate.
Approved Green Belts 1986 Acres (approx) 1979 Acres (approx) Date of approval London 1,200,000 757,740 1976 West Midlands 650,000 352,000 1975 Greater Manchester, Central Lanes, Merseyside/Wirral 750,000 3,7101 6 Tyne & Wear 200,000 98,800 7 Nottingham/Derby 200,000 2 — York 50,000 3 — South and West Yorkshire 800,000 312,000 8 Oxford 100,000 61,960 1975 Avon 150,000 155,160 9 Gloucester/Cheltenham 20,00 14,120 10 Stoke-on-Trent 125,000 4 — Cambridge 26,550 4,320 1975 SW Hampshire/SE Dorset 220,000 5 — Burton-Swadlincote 2,000 — — Lancaster and Fylde Coast 5,750 — — TOTAL 4,498.300 1,759,810 1 Green Belt policies were applied on an interim basis to over 306,400 acres.
2 Green Belt policies were applied on a provisional basis to over 142,650 acres.
3 Green Belt policies were applied on an interim basis to about 18,900 acres.
4 Green Belt policies were applied on an interim basis to about 112,640 acres.
5 Green Belt policies were applied on a provisional basis to about 238,060 acres.
6 Defined in old development plans which were replaced by structure plans 1979/83.
7 Defined in old development plans which were replaced by structure plans 1980/81.
8 Defined in old development plans which were replaced by stucture plans 1979/80.
613W9 Defined in old development plans which were replaced by structure plans 1981/85.
10 Defined in old development plans which were replaced by structure plans 1981.