The Green Belt: Fields forever?

The Green Belt is a powerful symbol of rural England — and Labour knows it. The new government says it wants to build on unlovely bits of green belts. A lot of people don’t like that.  

Who decided there should be Green Belts? What are they really for? How did they get so big? And how is the government ever going to overcome the opposition of homeowners who treasure their views and have absolutely no personal interest in house prices falling? 

Ros Taylor talks to LSE professor Paul Cheshire and journalist Jonn Elledge about the problems facing Labour as it tries to persuade Britons of the need for more housing and infrastructure. And Paul Cheshire sets out a plan to free up land near railway stations for housing. 

• “More of Surrey is covered by golf courses than is covered by houses or domestic buildings.” – Paul Cheshire 

• “We have a planning system that very much privileges the rights of people to say no, and never the reasons why we should say yes.” – Jonn Elledge 

• “In effect our local government system fines a community that allows houses to be built.” – Paul Cheshire 

Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Jade Bailey. Original music by Dubstar. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Jam Tomorrow is a Podmasters production 

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