Councils in the South East and East of England have seen the highest levels of housing development taking place on green belt in the three years between 2015/16 and 2017/18, according to figures published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
All but four of the top 20 local authorities with the highest proportion of residential addresses created in the green belt are located in the South East and East of England regions, the new MHCLG figures show.
However, Purbeck District Council in the South West of England topped the table for the highest levels of green belt housing development, sharing the number one spot with Epping Forest Council in east London, despite designated green belt only comprising 19 per cent of its local authority area.
Seventeen of the top 20 councils represent areas where more than 70 per cent of land is designated green belt.
The top 20 local authorities with the highest proportion of new residential addresses created in the green belt between 2015/16 and 2017/18
Meanwhile, the statistics revealed that half of the top 20 local authorities with the highest proportion of housing development on brownfield land are located within Greater London.
The City of London saw 100 per cent of new residential addresses created on previously developed land in the three years between 2015/16 and 2017/18, followed by Westminster City Council with 98 per cent and Camden Council with 96 per cent.
Luton Borough Council and Portsmouth City Council both had the highest proportions of brownfield development outside London, sharing fourth place with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea at 92 per cent.
The top 20 local authorities with the highest proportion of new residential addresses created on brownfield land between 2015/16 and 2017/18
