Greenfield site – A plot of land often in the countryside or on the edge of an urban area, that has not yet been built on

To remember the meaning of the term Greenfield Site, use the following mnemonic:

There is a green field (greenfield) on the edge of the city not yet built on.

As a greenfield site hasn’t been developed previously, little site clearance is required.

There are no buildings to demolish and no industrial roads or debris to remove.

So, a greenfield site provides a blank canvas – but there are drawbacks. Development of such sites results in the loss of countryside and wildlife habitats.

Pressure groups have been set up to protect greenfield sites. For instance, in England, the CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) lobbies for less use of greenfield sites for future development.