history
The management of residual and open space land has been a long standing problem in both private and public sectors of the development business. In general it had been the role of the public sector to "adopt" the long term responsibility for this land and incorporate it into their general estate. The management of this estate proved a significant burden in terms of allocation of suitable resources.
In early 1990`s, public bodies including Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Enterprise Network and Strathclyde Regional Council recognised the need for a vehicle to facilitate solutions for the future repair and management of urban fringe landscapes, including new development open spaces and so in 1992 they jointly formed The Strathclyde Greenbelt Company Limited.
This company's purpose was to:
- own land,
- create income streams; and
- undertake land management in the Strathclyde area.
The company was unique at the time, being a public sector initiative but incorporated and operated as a private company, with profits being channelled back into environmental works.
The company quickly evolved into a self financing organisation with no public subsidy, expanding its services Scotland wide (The Scottish Greenbelt Company Limited) and soon after expanded its services throughout the UK . In 1999 the company reorganised as a stand alone private company to form The Greenbelt Group of Companies Limited.
In 2004, the remaining public sector interest, satisfied that its original initiative was secure, exited, leaving ownership responsibility with the current owners. At that time Greenbelt Group (Holdings) Limited (renamed Greenbelt Holdings Limited) was formed and the company has continued to grow and fulfil those original objectives.