With the Government’s target of 1.5 million new houses over the current Parliament and the
policy of ‘grey belt’, there are wide-ranging and profound questions being asked and discussed
about the future of the Green Belt as it comes under unprecedented development pressure.
However, with the revival of strategic planning there are distinctive opportunities to rethink the
purpose and function of the policy, especially surrounding having a 'multi-functional' purpose.

With the publication of a Monograph recently on the Green Belt (Goode, 2025), this paper aims to, firstly, to examine past attempts at Green Belt reform through the lens of historical institutionalism. It then uses this to explore the possible trajectories and ramifications of the Government’s ‘grey belt’ reforms at a time of unprecedented development pressure on Green Belt. Secondly, it conceptualises alternative futures for the policy including the possibility of a more environmentally based policy whilst strategically being reviewed to meet housing need.