ABSTRACT
Introduction Since their introduction in the UK in the 1930s, we have seen a growing use of “green belts”, or similar policies under different names, around the world. As with any other aspect of planning, the application of green belt principles differs depending on the political and socio-economic context of a given location. While many international examples of green belts retain a comparable spatial form, the manner in which they are planned for and managed is more variable, as are their purposes. This chapter explores some different examples of green belts and examines how the development arenas of different countries influence their use, management and valuation. Each of the case studies discusses the nuances and reflects on both historical and current debates of the utility of green belts as a form of landscape and urban planning. The selection of examples does not profess to be exhaustive; rather, it is a snapshot of those which have been discussed in the academic and practitioner literature. Finally, the main successes, themes and barriers to implementation are brought together to summarise key overarching points.
