Thomas Turrell is the London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley. He is the Conservative Group’s Spokesman on the Environment.
Our Green Belt is under threat. We can only lose it once. That’s why in April, I challenged myself to walk the 150-mile London Outer Orbital Path (LOOP) in a week. Spoiler alert: I missed the target of a week, after taking a few days to rest. But while my feet are blistered, my resolve is strengthened.
Walking the LOOP, I’ve witnessed firsthand what’s at stake in the ongoing battle to preserve these vital spaces. I have passed through fields of horses, crossed numerous rivers, climbed more than my fair share of hills and enjoyed miles of beautiful woodlands. The land I have walked across is home to lizards, snakes, rare butterflies, a Highland Cow and even seals! Yes, Greater London is home to seals and a Highland Cow.
I have enjoyed panoramic views from Addington Hills and from the other side at the Harrow Viewpoint. These are not merely pleasant backdrops for weekend strolls; they represent the living, breathing lungs of our city – and they are under threat. How can Labour seriously introduce new taxes on motorists under the guise of improving air quality and then seek to concrete over the lungs of London. The rank hypocrisy shows that Labour cannot be trusted with the environment.
Recent revelations about how Transport for London (TfL) has been pushing councils behind the scenes to release Green Belt land for development have confirmed my worst fears. What began as a personal challenge to raise money for Thames21 and the Woodland Trust has evolved into an opportunity to celebrate the rich green spaces London is so lucky to have – and which some on the left would take away from us. (All donations welcome).
Walking over 20 miles daily through these green corridors has been physically demanding, but the mental clarity gained has been invaluable. I’ve observed how these spaces serve as critical psychological safety valves for Londoners. Research consistently shows that access to green spaces reduces stress, anxiety, and depression – conditions that affect millions in our city. These aren’t luxury amenities; they’re public health infrastructure. I know it all too well personally – during the pandemic, the rare chance to get out in green spaces in my area was a vital temporary escape from being a renter in London at the time of lockdown. In many ways, they were a lifeline.
Along my walk, I’ve been joined by Conservatives from across London – from councillors to my friends here at City Hall, and activists who know what’s at stake if Labour get their way to start chopping up verdant Green Belt land. As this Government pushes London to build more and more homes, without addressing the underlying failures in the Housing Market, it’s only a matter of time before development begins to encroach on these shared, inherited spaces.
These green spaces democratise access to nature. Not everyone can afford countryside retreats or exotic holidays, but the Green Belt ensures that every Londoner has access to genuine wilderness within reasonable distance of their home.
The argument that we must sacrifice the Green Belt to address housing shortages presents a false choice. London still has abundant brownfield sites and under-utilised spaces that can accommodate growth without encroaching on these irreplaceable assets. The truth is that Labour’s plans disincentivise developers from building on brownfield. What’s needed is political courage and creative urban planning, not shortsighted land grabs that would permanently scar our city’s ecological framework.
My 150-mile journey has reinforced that the Green Belt isn’t just a planning designation – it’s a living system that connects communities, protects biodiversity, safeguards mental health, and maintains ecological balance. Once fragmented by development, these connections cannot be restored.
The charities I’m supporting through this walk – Thames21 and the Woodland Trust – understand this interconnectedness. They work tirelessly to protect and enhance our natural spaces, recognising that healthy rivers and thriving woodlands are essential components of urban resilience.
As I complete this journey, my message to policymakers is clear: walk these paths yourselves. Spend time understanding what the green belt truly offers before making decisions that would irrevocably diminish it. And to fellow Londoners: explore, enjoy, and defend these spaces. They belong to all of us – and to future generations who deserve the same access to nature that has sustained me through 150 remarkable miles.
The true value of London’s Green Belt cannot be measured in development potential, but in the countless lives it enriches, the ecosystems it sustains, and the urban liveability it ensures. This is what’s worth protecting.
