Local authority green belt: England 2025-26 - statistical release
Published 22 October 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-green-belt-statistics-for-england-2025-to-2026/local-authority-green-belt-england-2025-26-statistical-release
1. Main points
- The extent of land designated as Green Belt in England as at 31 March 2026 was estimated at 1,632,730 hectares, around 12.5% of the land area of England.
- Overall there was a decrease of 480 hectares in the area of land designated as Green Belt between 31 March 2025 and 31 March 2026. This is a decrease of 0.03% compared to the Green Belt as at 31 March 2025, and this decrease has the equivalent area of 0.004% of England.
- In 2025-26, 7 local authorities adopted local plans involving changes to the Green Belt, with the result being a net decrease of 480 hectares in the overall area of land designated as Green Belt compared to 31 March 2025.
- Updates to the local authority district (mean high water mark) boundaries resulted in no net change in the area of land designated as Green Belt.
- Since 31 March 2016 the amount of land that has been designated as Green Belt has increased by 4,480 hectares. This is an increase of 0.28%, the equivalent area of 0.03% of England.
2. Context
England has a land area of just under 13,046,450 hectares[footnote 1] of which 9% is of developed use[footnote 2] with around 11% being classified as ‘built-up’[footnote 3]. When including land designated as Green Belt, just over 37% of the area of England (4.9 million hectares) is protected against development by one or more protected area. ‘Protected areas’ for these purposes include land designated as Green Belt, and the protected areas and land designations identified by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
The objective of Green Belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open. Green Belt serves five purposes:
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to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas;
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to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another;
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to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment;
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to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns; and
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to assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.
Policy setting out how Green Belts should be established, assessed, altered, and defined is set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. The Framework also sets out policy for considering development proposals on Green Belt land.
In December 2024, the government published a revised National Planning Policy Framework which included new requirements to identify grey belt land.
In August 2026, the government published a new National Planning Policy Framework which maintains protection for Green Belt land and continues to reflect grey belt policies. It also provides support for suitable development around ‘well connected’ stations, including in the Green Belt, to ensure homes can come forward in the most sustainable locations, with good access to jobs and services.
This release does not provide estimates on the amount of Green Belt land that has been identified as grey belt. Departmental statisticians are exploring the scope for collecting data in the future, having discussed with local authority representatives at the Central Local Partnership (CLIP) Planning Sub-Group.
Statistical information is also available on land designated as Green Belt and other land designations within our interactive dashboard.
2.1 Related publications
It is useful to consider this statistical release alongside other statistical releases published by the department. The Land Use statistical release provides a breakdown of land uses within the Green Belt at local authority level.[footnote 4]
The Land Use Change statistics provide information on the proportion of new residential addresses created within the Green Belt and the previous use of the land on which the new residential addresses were created, also at local authority level. Land use change in terms of hectarage is also available within the Green Belt.[footnote 5]
3. Extent of the Green Belt as at 31 March 2026
The extent of land designated as Green Belt in England as at 31 March 2026 is shown in Map 1, below. It was estimated at 1,632,730 hectares, around 12.5% of the land area of England. A regional breakdown of the number of hectares designated as Green Belt and the proportion of the total regional land area designated as Green Belt is shown below in Table 1.
The table shows the South East has the largest area of land designated as Green Belt with 303,990 hectares, followed by the West Midlands with 264,280 and Yorkshire and The Humber with 260,470 hectares. Out of the nine regions, London has the smallest area of land designated as Green Belt with 34,780 hectares but has the highest proportion of its total land area designated as Green Belt with 22.1%. The region with the smallest percentage of its land designated as Green Belt is the South West with 107,950 hectares, accounting for only 4.5% of its total land area.
Table 1: Regional breakdown of Green Belt land
| Region | Green Belt area (hectares) | Percentage of total regional land area designated as Green Belt |
|---|---|---|
| England | 1,632,730 | 12.5 |
| East Midlands | 77,410 | 4.9 |
| East of England | 233,660 | 12.2 |
| London | 34,780 | 22.1 |
| North East | 98,540 | 11.5 |
| North West | 251,630 | 17.8 |
| South East | 303,990 | 15.9 |
| South West | 107,950 | 4.5 |
| West Midlands | 264,280 | 20.3 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 260,470 | 16.9 |
Note: hectarage figures are rounded to the nearest ten hectares.
Map 1: Extent of Green Belt as at 31 March 2026
3.1 Urban core areas
Land designated as Green Belt is distributed around sixteen urban cores. These are mapped using the dark yellow areas in Map 1 and are listed in Table 4 which also shows the area of land associated with each urban core. The Metropolitan Green Belt (London) is the largest area of Green Belt surrounding an urban core and accounts for 31.1% of England’s total Green Belt area.
3.2 Area by local authority
The ‘Area by LA’ table in the Accompanying tables shows estimates of the area of land designated as Green Belt within each of the 177 local authorities (out of 296 local authorities) that had some land designated as Green Belt as at 31 March 2026. The ‘net changes’ table in the Accompanying tables compares estimates as at 31 March 2026 with the revised estimates as at 31 March 2025 by local authority.
4. Net changes
Overall, there was a decrease of 480 hectares (0.03%) in the area of land designated as Green Belt in England between 31 March 2025 and 31 March 2026.
In 2025-26, 7 local authorities adopted new Green Belt boundaries, resulting in a net decrease of 480 hectares in the overall area of land designated as Green Belt compared to 31 March 2025. The changes are set out in Table 2. There may be discrepancies between individual figures due to rounding, with all figures rounded to the nearest ten hectares.
Table 2: Local authorities which adopted new boundaries for designated land as Green Belt 2025-26
| Local authority | Region | Area of designated Green Belt land 31 March 2025 (hectares) | Area of designated Green Belt land 31 March 2026 (hectares) | Change from 31 March 2025 (hectares) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Valley | East Midlands | 8,650 | 8,650 | 0 (0%) |
| Cannock Chase | West Midlands | 4,820 | 4,720 | -110 (-2%) |
| East Hertfordshire | East of England | 16,450 | 16,440 | 0 (0%) |
| Spelthorne | South East | 3,320 | 3,290 | -30 (-1%) |
| Tunbridge Wells | South East | 7,130 | 6,910 | -220 (-3%) |
| Uttlesford | East of England | 3,810 | 3,810 | 0 (0%) |
| Wychavon | West Midlands | 8,850 | 8,740 | -110 (-1%) |
Note: hectarage figures are rounded to the nearest ten hectares
Of the 7 local authorities reporting changes to their Green Belt, all had a net decrease. Tunbridge Wells had the largest net decrease of 220 hectares, decreasing the size of the authority’s Green Belt by 3%.
In recent years, about ten local authorities have made changes to land designated as Green Belt each year, albeit with the figure varying between years. Local authorities making changes to their Green Belt provide explanations for the changes on their Annual Green Belt (AGB) return. These explanations are reviewed and supplemented by the Department where necessary and are available within Annex A.
Updates made to the local authority district (mean high water mark) boundaries resulted in a no change in the area of land designated as Green Belt.
Table 3 shows the net charge reported for each year from 2013-14, broken down into changes resulting from designation policies and resulting from changes to digital boundaries. The figures reflect subsequent revisions made to the figures to improve accuracy.
Table 3: National summary of net changes to land designated as Green Belt
| Year | Number of local authorities changing their Green Belt | Net change from local authority designation policies (hectares) | Net change from local authority digital boundary (hectares) | Total net change (hectares) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 3 | -540 | 0 | -540 |
| 2014-15 | 11 | -1,890 | 0 | -1,890 |
| 2015-16 | 8 | -1,070 | 40 | -1,030 |
| 2016-17 | 8 | -1,190 | 10 | -1,180 |
| 2017-18 | 10 | -6,090 | -20 | -6,110 |
| 2018-19 | 13 | -3,850 | 0 | -3,850 |
| 2019-20 | 15 | -3,220 | -350 | -3,570 |
| 2020-21 | 11 | -1,760 | 10 | -1,750 |
| 2021-22 | 14 | 24,580 | 0 | 24,580 |
| 2022-23 | 10 | 750 | -10 | 740 |
| 2023-24 | 15 | -4,440 | 10 | -4,430 |
| 2024-25 | 6 | -650 | -10 | -660 |
| 2025-26 | 7 | -480 | 0 | -480 |
Note: hectarage figures are rounded to the nearest 10 hectares
5. Revisions to 2024-25 estimates
Revisions are made each year to the published estimates for the previous year in order to accurately calculate the net change in Green Belt area. The revised Green Belt in England as at 31 March 2025 is estimated at 1,633,210 hectares. This is a decrease of 10 hectares on the previous estimate of 1,633,220 hectares published in October 2025.
Two authorities reported revisions. Buckinghamshire recreated their Green Belt file to correct some minor digitisation discrepancies to increase their boundary accuracy around housing estates. Welwyn Hatfield identified a small factual error in their Green Belt boundary and the correction of -0.6ha was approved by the council on 16 July 2025.
A summary of the scale of revisions over the preceding statistical releases, is available under the ‘Revisions policy’ heading in the Technical Notes.
6. Longer term changes
Statistics on the area of Green Belt are available back to 1997, in the ‘Area since 1997 – England’ table of the Accompanying tables. Figures are, however, available on a consistent basis only from 2007, following the designation of 47,300 hectares of Green Belt land as part of the New Forest National Park in 2005. Those from 31 March 2022 are set out in Table 4, broken down by urban core.
Table 4: Trend in the area of land designated as Green Belt as at 31 March since 2021-22
| Urban core | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 1,637,560 | 1,638,310 | 1,633,870 | 1,633,210 | 1,632,730 |
| Bath and Bristol | 71,650 | 71,640 | 71,640 | 71,640 | 71,640 |
| Birmingham | 226,840 | 226,600 | 226,610 | 226,610 | 226,390 |
| Blackpool | 2,510 | 2,500 | 2,500 | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| Burton-upon-Trent and Swadlincote | 720 | 720 | 720 | 720 | 720 |
| Cambridge | 26,090 | 26,090 | 26,090 | 26,090 | 26,090 |
| Carnforth, Lancaster and Morecambe | 1,540 | 1,540 | 1,540 | 1,540 | 1,540 |
| Cheltenham and Gloucester | 6,190 | 6,190 | 6,190 | 6,190 | 6,190 |
| Derby and Nottingham | 59,900 | 59,900 | 59,910 | 59,910 | 59,910 |
| London | 506,040 | 508,520 | 508,200 | 508,070 | 507,820 |
| Merseyside and Greater Manchester | 248,650 | 247,630 | 245,020 | 245,020 | 245,020 |
| Oxford | 34,460 | 34,460 | 33,570 | 33,570 | 33,570 |
| South West Hampshire | 35,100 | 35,100 | 35,100 | 35,090 | 35,090 |
| South and West Yorkshire | 246,980 | 246,490 | 245,870 | 245,870 | 245,870 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 44,380 | 44,410 | 44,400 | 44,400 | 44,400 |
| Tyne and Wear | 98,560 | 98,550 | 98,550 | 98,540 | 98,540 |
| York | 27,950 | 27,950 | 27,950 | 27,440 | 27,440 |
Note: figures are rounded to the nearest 10 hectares
Figures (in this publication) have been revised since the original estimates were published.
7. Accompanying tables and spatial boundary files
Additional tables, on total area and changes to land designated as Green Belt (annual), are available to download alongside this release. The tables are as follows:
| Table name | Table description |
|---|---|
| Area by LA | Land designated as Green belt - area by local authority as at 31 March 2026 |
| Change in area by LA | Change in Green Belt area between 31 March 2025 and 31 March 2026 |
| Area since 1997 | Area of Green Belt land since 1997, England |
| Area by PCON | Land designated as Green belt - area by parliamentary constituency as used for the July 2024 General Election using data at 31 March 2026. |
| Land designations by LA | Land designated as Green Belt and other designations including National Parks, National Landscapes (previously known as areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest - area by local authority as at 31 March 2026 |
| Area by LA 1997 to 2025-26 | Designated Green Belt land - area by local authority from 1997 to 31 March 2026 |
| Green belt Interactive Dashboard | An interactive dashboard comprising statistical information on land designated as Green Belt and other land designations is also available on the Green Belt statistics landing page. |
They are available at: Green belt statistics.
In addition, spatial data files setting out Green Belt area boundaries are available at: https://data.gov.uk/.
8. Uses of the data
The local authority Green Belt spatial boundaries, collected as part of this release are used in the preparation of other statistical releases published by MHCLG. The Land Use Change statistics (LUCs) use the Green Belt boundaries to determine the proportion of new residential addresses created within the Green Belt, and the previous land use those addresses were created on. The Land Use statistics use the Green Belt boundaries to calculate proportions of various land use classes within the Green Belt.
The summary statistics for the Land Use Change statistics and the Land Use statistics within land designated as Green Belt are as follows:
- In 2021-22, 2% of new residential addresses created were within the Green Belt. This is unchanged from the 2020-21.
- In 2021-22, 51% of new residential addresses created within the Green Belt were built on previously developed land. This is an increase on the 47% recorded in 2020-21.
- In 2022, 6.8% of land designated as Green Belt in England is of developed use with 93.1% of land of non-developed use.
- Of land designated as Green Belt, 0.3% is of a residential use with residential gardens accounting for a further 2.9%.
Detailed statistics on changes within the Green Belt can also be found in the Land Use Change Live Tables, numbers P310, P311 and P380 to P383.
Detailed statistics on land uses within the Green Belt can also be found in the Land Use in England 2018 Live Tables P401a and P401b.
Green Belt statistics are often quoted alongside statistics for other designations. These designations are often considered constraints on development with the statistics providing the amount of land ‘protected’ against development.
The Green Belt boundaries and statistics are closely aligned with local plans and local planning. The Green Belt boundaries were used to help determine Local Housing Need numbers and feed into a number of other related housing and development related projects.
8.1 Annex A: explanation of changes in 2025-26
Local authorities making changes to their Green Belt provide explanations for the changes on their AGB return, for which the guidance notes encourage them to include references to their Local Plan. These explanations are presented here for users’ information, with some minor amendments for clarity only. If any figures within these explanations differ from the statistics, we advise users to use the statistics because they are produced using a consistent methodology for processing the data provided by local authorities.
Amber Valley
As set out in the Amber Valley Borough Local Plan (adopted 2 March 2026), land off High Holborn Road, Codnor, was removed from the Green Belt to facilitate the provision of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation (p29). The Local Plan identifies exceptional circumstances for the boundary amendment, including an identified need for pitches at this location, the longstanding occupation and previous permissions on the site, and evidence that suitable alternative provision could not be found outside the Green Belt.
Cannock Chase
As set out in Policy SO7.7 (p151) of the Cannock Chase District Local Plan 2018-2040 (adopted 23 March 2026), Green Belt boundaries were amended to accommodate the District’s growth requirements for employment, residential and infrastructure developments.
East Hertfordshire
The Green Belt boundary was amended following the allocation of a housing site through the Stanstead Abbotts & St Margarets (SASM) Neighbourhood Plan (adopted 4 March 2026). The boundary change (p17-18) relates to land allocated for residential development and is supported by Policy HI and Policy H3 of the Neighbourhood Plan.
Spelthorne
The Spelthorne Local Plan 2024-2039-40 (adopted 17 March 2026) amended Green Belt boundaries to help meet identified housing and Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs. The boundary amendments were informed by a two-stage Green Belt Review which formed part of the evidence base supporting the Local Plan. The adopted Plan released a limited amount of Green Belt land to help meet identified development needs while retaining the overall strategic function of the Metropolitan Green Belt within the borough. Specific allocations can be found from p116 of the local plan.
Tunbridge Wells
The Tunbridge Wells Borough Local Plan 2020-2038 was adopted on 10 December 2025 and amends Green Belt boundaries at 12 sites (p71-72) to facilitate the delivery of housing and other planned development allocations across the borough.
Uttlesford
As set out in the Uttlesford Local Plan 2021-2041 (adopted 25 March 2026), no new development allocations are proposed within the Green Belt. However, three minor amendments were made to Green Belt boundaries (p263) to reflect development that has already taken place and to ensure that Green Belt boundaries remain permanent over the long term in accordance with national planning policy.
Wychavon
The South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (adopted 26 March 2026) amended Green Belt boundaries following a strategic review of Green Belt land across South Worcestershire in the Report on the Examination of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (p18-19). These changes primarily relate to existing employment, residential and developed areas where revised Green Belt boundaries were considered appropriate through the Local Plan examination process.
9. Technical notes
Please see the accompanying technical notes document for further details.
10. Enquiries
Date of next release: October 2027
Media enquiries: 0303 444 1209 newsdesk@communities.gov.uk
Public enquiries and responsible statistician: Elise Whiteley
Email: planning.statistics@communities.gov.uk
Information on Official Statistics is available via the UK Statistics Authority website.
Information about statistics at MHCLG is available via the Department’s website.
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Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.
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Digital vector boundaries for Local Authority Districts in the United Kingdom. ↩
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The Land use in England statistics were last updated in 2022 and only cover data up to that year. We are aiming to resume publications by the end of 2026. ↩
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The Land use change statistics were last updated in 2023 and only cover data up to 2022. We are aiming to resume publications by the end of 2026. ↩