York Green Belt

The City of York Green Belt is an environmental and planning policy that regulates the rural space within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England.

The policy's core function is to manage development around York and the surrounding area, preserving its setting and historic character, discouraging urban sprawl, and the convergence of outer villages into the city's built up areas.

There are five aims for the green belt around York:[2] Formally created in 1980 after being an interim policy since the 1950s, the local development plan defines the green belt outer edge as being 'about 6 miles from York'.

[3] The green belt nearly covers the city except for built-up area and larger surrounding villages.

[4] The rural areas and smaller villages of the district are "washed over" by the green belt, meaning there is limited development scope in these areas:[2] Acaster Malbis, Askham Bryan, Askham Richard, Deighton, Heslington, Hessay, Holtby, Hopgrove, Knapton, Murton, Naburn and Rufforth.

Green belt showing extents, districts and counties.
City of York green belt
County borders
District borders
South and West Yorkshire green belt