USUS UKUKIndiaIndia

Every Question Helps You Learn

Join Us
Streak
Leading Streak Today
Your Streak Today
Streak
Leading Streak Today
Your Streak Today
Green Belt
Some people think of green belts as "nooses strangling the towns and cities within".

Green Belt

This Geography quiz is called 'Green Belt' and it has been written by teachers to help you if you are studying the subject at high school. Playing educational quizzes is a user-friendly way to learn if you are in the 9th or 10th grade - aged 14 to 16.

It costs only $12.50 per month to play this quiz and over 3,500 others that help you with your school work. You can subscribe on the page at Join Us

The green belt policy in the UK is one of the topics studied in high school Geography. This quiz looks at some of the advantages of the policy - preventing urban sprawl for example - and disadvantages - such as a growth in demand for land leading to a rise in urban house prices.

A green belt is a distinct area of undeveloped land surrounding specific cities, with the aim of preventing urban sprawl. The Metropolitan Green Belt surrounding London was the first to be proposed in 1935. There are five stated purposes of green belts:

  1. To prevent the unrestricted sprawl of large built up areas.
  2. To prevent neighboring towns and cities merging into one another.
  3. To safeguard the countryside from encroachment.
  4. To preserve the setting and special character of historic towns.
  5. To assist in urban regeneration by encouraging the use of brownfield sites.

Stifling the growth of urban areas by restricting development on green belts has lead to brownfield sites becoming a viable alternative for developers looking for a place to build. This in turn reduces the amount of urban decay and promotes urban renewal.

Some people refer to green belts as 'nooses strangling the towns and cities within'. Settlements in the South are finding that the lack of brownfield sites and the restriction placed on expansion by green belts, are together driving up property prices, preventing the next generation from buying homes in the area and forcing them to move away. Commuters may also have a longer journey because of green belts and communities located in the green belt zone may struggle to have planning permission granted for essential services. It could be argued that rising property prices will force people to look at alternatives, including living in cheaper locations in the North with good commuter links to the South. For example, Crewe, in Cheshire, is being proposed as a commuter location if it gets a station on the new high-speed railroad. We may see the growth of other commuter towns which are not encircled by a green belt as yet.

1.
Why are the bulk of the green belt areas located around London, Birmingham and along the M62 corridor?
These are the areas with the largest cities and the greatest potential for urban sprawl
These are the only areas without development near the cities
They are the locations of the only cities in the UK
The local authorities in these cities are more likely to push the limits of the laws and needed extra legislation
When the original legislation came in it was focused on England and later spread to Scotland and Wales. The largest cities in England were ringed by green belt
2.
How do green belts help air quality in the UK?
By reducing the total number of houses built
By increasing commuter journeys
By reducing industry nationwide
By providing a forest habitat which reduces air pollution
12% of UK green belt land is forested. The same number of properties and industry are still required, they will just be built elsewhere rather than in the green belt
3.
Why might green belts cause a loss of green spaces and wildlife?
People are destroying other green spaces to make up their loss of space
Green belt has industries such as forestry and agriculture
As housing prices rise, cities like London lose front and backyards
The building of roads, water and sewers has destroyed the green belt
Gardens and yards can provide vital havens for animals. Flowers can provide a food source for urban bees, whilst animals such as hedgehogs, as well as pond dwellers such as frogs, thrive in urban gardens. These are just as important as the greenbelt for many species - and even ecosystems
4.
Which of the following is not a way that green belt can help offset the problems of climate change?
Planting of trees to increase carbon capture
Developing wetlands to help combat flooding
Creating renewable energy supplies
Increasing commuter journeys
Added to these, green belt land will help species have the space to adapt to climate change, provide local food and leisure opportunities and encourage the use of smaller, more energy efficient homes within the urban area
5.
As housing prices rise in cities trapped by green belt, what might happen to the local population?
It becomes dominated by working professionals
Families move into the area looking for larger housing
The younger members of the population move away to find more affordable housing
They become stuck in the area with no chance to move out
The loss of the younger members of the population, who are often the bulk of the workforce, leads to businesses struggling to find staff. This in turn can prevent business expansion, or even force businesses to move out of the area
6.
What percentage of land area is green belt in England alone?
91%
75%
13%
2%
13% may not seem like much, but added to the areas of national parks, protected areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest, it is clear that a large amount of the countryside is protected
7.
Other than preventing urban sprawl, green belt also provides numerous advantages to urban residents. Which of the following is not an advantage of green belt to urban residents?
Higher cost of houses
Places for recreation
Local agriculture and food
Reduces pollution and provides a place to get fresh air
These are also advantages to the rural residents. The close proximity of the urban area provides a market for their goods and services
8.
What does green belt do that has a positive impact for nearby rural communities?
Green belt prevents rural communities being absorbed into the city and the land being sold off for property development
Green belt drives housing prices up, making rural communities better off
Green belt leads to commuters passing through rural communities and contributing the their economy
Green belt stifles business expansion for many industries
Whilst the green belt has an overall positive impact, for individuals the disadvantages might be an immediate problem
9.
Why have some developments been granted planning permission on green belt land?
Because the government is bowing to pressure with no real reason
Because the lack of housing is causing settlements to stagnate, forcing businesses and the next generation out of the area
Only agricultural developments have been granted, such as barns and storage facilities, or roads and tracks to properties
To provide jobs and employment for urban residents
The lack of housing, especially in the South, has been described as a housing crisis. With high costs for many brownfield sites, some developers see building on green belt as being the only viable option
10.
Which of the following is not actively encouraged in a green belt zone?
Agriculture
Building large industrial units
Building for sanitation works
Leisure and recreation such as walking and golf courses
Whilst essential services and agricultural buildings can be built in the green belt, all other developments are discouraged - although some may be granted in specific situations
Author:  Ruth M

© Copyright 2016-2024 - Education Quizzes
Work Innovate Ltd - Design | Development | Marketing

We use cookies to make your experience of our website better.

To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent - I agree - No thanks - Find out more