Environmental Defence | Protecting the Environment and Human Health

Housing Prices and Greenbelt Protection: Facts and Fiction

There is no factual basis for the allegations from the development industry that a greenbelt in southern Ontario will lead to higher housing prices. Similar objections have been raised wherever development restrictions have been proposed and they have proven to be alarmist and not informed by the complex realities of the housing market.

There are many economic studies and analyses which conclude that provincial or municipal restrictions on land supply do not have a strong effect on housing prices. In fact, research shows that creating or preserving substantial green space, such as greenbelts, farms, wetlands, and parks, can bring significant environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

The creation of a greenbelt is not only an opportunity to preserve green surroundings in the Golden Horseshoe; it is also a chance to encourage the creation of a greater variety of housing opportunities and dynamic neighbourhoods in a more exciting and productive city-region.

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