Labour leader Keir Starmer revealed plans to give local authorities more power to build on green land under a Labour Government, to meet housing needs.
Between 2009 and 2018, nearly 65,000 new homes were approved on green belt land across the UK.
A study by Herts Tools found that Guildford’s 22,636 hectare green belt was rated the most under threat, due to a population increase of 9.63% over the past 10 years, while the number of houses built in the area increased by 80% over the last decade.
Chorley, Thurrock, Epping Forest and Tandbridge followed Guildford as the potential focus points of green belt expansion in the future.
These areas had green belts of over 10 thousand hectares and a population increase of at least 7%.
However, Searchland found that reclassifying 1% of the green belt could deliver almost 738,000 new homes with an estimated value of £317.5bn.
Stefano Lobban, director at Herts Tools, said: “Just because there is a green belt that can be built on, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we should.
“Building on green belts will mean that urban regeneration opportunities are ignored. There is plenty of other land which can be utilised for house building.”
He added: “The number of long-term empty homes in England has increased by 4.8% over the past year.
“We should be regenerating pre-used land and buildings, often left neglected and decaying anyway which will breathe new life into our towns and cities.
“Policy regarding green belt land has always stated that restrictions are in place to prevent development from occurring on the area.
“Urban sprawl is the biggest threat to climate change and many believe the housing crisis won’t be resolved by releasing land.”
In a speech to the BBC Global Annual Conference 2023, Starmer said: “[These are] tough choices, but the right choices. Choices we make with our eyes wide open.
“We choose the builders, not the blockers. The future, not the past. Renewal, not decline. We choose growth.”
