Construction works are more likely to occur on formerly green spaces in deprived areas of the UK than wealthier ones, a report has found.
In 2012, the government introduced Local Green Space (LGS) designations that give green belt-like protections to smaller areas of land. Since then, 7,286 LGS areas have been established for reasons including their recreational value, beauty and importance for wildlife.
The report from rural charity CPRE revealed that LGS designations increased by 771 since 2022, most of them in northern England. In London, the total number of LGSs grew by 64 per cent.
But while LGS designations have increased in deprived areas, the mapping also revealed a strong correlation between deprivation and a lack of green space.
The charity suggests that engagement with neighbourhood planning may not be a priority for people facing poor housing, low incomes and barriers to accessing healthcare and other essential services, and it called on organisations to work together to address these pressures and create capacity for wider environmental issues.
CPRE also called for the LGS designation process to be standardised to make it easier for communities to make use of the legislation.
There are currently disparities where some LGS designations are permitted on account of an area’s ‘richness of wildlife’ or ‘beauty’, while others are not. There is also a lack of consistency within these and other categories, depending on the region or landscape type concerned.
According to the report, 81 per cent of all LGS designations were made on account of an area’s recreational value, 34 per cent on account of its importance for wildlife and 27 per cent on account of its beauty.
Brad Taylor, lead author of the report, said: “Communities with high levels of deprivation need to have their voices heard and their LGSs protected. People must be empowered to engage in the local and neighbourhood planning process that can secure LGS designations. Our green spaces are there for everyone to enjoy – everyone needs to be involved in deciding how to protect them.”
According to a report from peers in the House of Lords earlier this year, the government is falling short of meeting its commitment to protect a third of English land and seas by 2030.
It found that only around 6.5 per cent of natural habitats in England are effectively protected and an additional three million hectares will need to be given protected status in order to achieve the ‘30 by 30’ target.
