HC Deb 14 July 1988 vol 137 cc293-5W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the environment if he will list by region and county the area of land designated as green belt up to(a) 1979 and (b) 1987 in England.

Mr. Waldegrave

The table lists the area of approved green belts in each region in England in 1979 and in 1986, the latest date for which information has been collated (though there have been no major changes since then). Figures by county within a green belt could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. The general extent of each green belt is indicated in county structure plans. Detailed boundaries are defined in local plans, where they exist, or in old style development plans. Some detailed boundaries have not yet been settled, so areas are approximate.

Approved Green Belts
acres (approx)
Region 1979 1986
Northern:
Tyne and Wear 98,800 200,000

Mr. Waldegrave

For structure plan alterations and replacement plans approved since 1 July 1985, the information requested is as set out in the table. Details of plans approved before this date could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Region 1979 1986
North West:
Greater Manchester, Central Lancashire, Merseyside, Wirral 13,710 750,000
Lancaster and Fylde Coast — 5,750
Yorkshire and Humberside:
South and West Yorkshire 312,000 800,000
York 1 50,000
West Midlands:
Stoke-on-Trent 1 125,000
West Midlands 352,000 650,000
East Midlands:
Burton-Swadlincote — 2,000
Nottingham/Derby 1 200,000
South West:
Avon 155,160 150,000
Gloucester/Cheltenham 14,120 20,000
South East:
Cambridge 4,320 26,550
London 757,740 1,200,000
Oxford 61,960 100,000

Region 1979 1986
South West Hampshire/South East Dorset 1 220,000
TOTAL 1,759,810 4,499,300
1 Green Belt policies were applied on an interim basis to some additional areas.