In 2012, the government introduced Local Green Space (LGS) designations that give green belt-like protections to smaller areas of land. Since then, 7,286 LGS areas have been established for reasons including their recreational value, beauty and importance for wildlife.

The report from rural charity CPRE revealed that LGS designations increased by 771 since 2022, most of them in northern England. In London, the total number of LGSs grew by 64 per cent.

But while LGS designations have increased in deprived areas, the mapping also revealed a strong correlation between deprivation and a lack of green space.

The charity suggests that engagement with neighbourhood planning may not be a priority for people facing poor housing, low incomes and barriers to accessing healthcare and other essential services, and it called on organisations to work together to address these pressures and create capacity for wider environmental issues.

CPRE also called for the LGS...