In 1935 London's regional planners proposed the Metropolitan Green Belt and the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act encouraged local authorities to protect the land around towns and cities from building.

BBC: What would Britain look like without a green belt?

We need that kind of vision, backed by serious investment, when it comes to planning and managing the towns and cities of tomorrow.

BBC: Time to leave the comfort zone

Twenty towns and cities in England are to be offered more spending control in areas such as planning and transport.

BBC: Milton Keynes