Green belts in Scotland: Towards the modernisation of a traditional concept?

This paper examines the social reconstruction of green belt policy in Scotland through a historical overview of the academic, practice and policy literatures. Attention is drawn to the reinterpretation and extension of the social amenity and health objectives of early green belt policy introduced by the Department of Health in Scotland; the diversity of policy implementation in practice; and the recent attempts of the Scottish Executive to reform green belt policy in the context of the modernisation and reform of the land use planning system so as to accommodate spatial planning principles and to facilitate a cultural change.