El Green Belt en Inglaterra : de la contención edilicia al valor del paisaje

Abstract

The change relates to territorial understanding in the 90s , has caused that suburban open spaces, where daily millions of people are living, begin to play an important role in urban policies of many cities and metropolitan areas. Although the development of experiences whit an important revaluation of these spaces , for example Oslo, Hamburg or Vitoria, the indifferent attitude of politicians and urban planers about the urban periphery, has meant thal those areas near downtowns, are not areas of opportunity, but areas of uncertainty. However, the English territorial scenario could be defined as an unusual case. The implementation and permanence of the Green Belt in urban planning, it is a unique case. Originally it was conceived as an agricultural belt that would control the growth of English cities after World War II. So the periphery has been protected against housing development, keeping a balanced percentage of rural and urban land around the cities. Such circumstance gives many and beneficial added values to surrounding areas. The integration of nature and city, improving the connection between different open spaces, promoting formal and informal recreational activities for people, making a better accessibility to Countryside, protecting the agrarian land, acting as a green lung for the city, have a common objective: to improve the quality of life to 20mill people. Therefore the suburban areas in English cities, are in a privileged position in order to add value to open spaces , mainly to Green Belt as a high and important prototype regarding other experiences. This singularity of the English Green Belt is the most interested and valuable, not only as an exclusive urban legacy, but an opportunity to approach the English territory in the future. The physical and temporary analysis from his origin, it will be helpful in order to formalize his permanence and certificate his evolution. But, is this evolution according to present day situation? Analyzing the London Green Belt position and behavior in new circumstances; it will be the way to understand the current situation. This case of study is origin and reality of an idea becoming a fact. It is the cornerstone in the consolidation process and the pioneer in every change of the Green Belt. The understanding of this case of study will open a discussion line which affects many current experiences and focusing in one question: Would be the English Green Belt able to tackle with current requests? The house demand, sustainability patterns, the suburban agriculture aclivity as urban-territorial strategy, the suburban multifunctionality, the sectorial management to improve the environment protection and regeneration, and the Green Infrastructure as new model to global interpretation of open spaces; these points become the lines of work to clarify the Green Belt roll in the city's future.