New analysis from countryside charity CPRE seems to disclose that over half of brownfield websites had full or in-principle permission in 2024.
The UK’s big provide of brownfield land must be the primary port of name for constructing the houses this nation desperately wants, stated the group. These websites are usually situated close to present infrastructure, reminiscent of public transport, faculties, and healthcare services, making them advantageous for growth.
Moreover, the analysis reveals that there are sufficient brownfield websites in England to construct nearly 1.5 million new houses, indicating that the federal government can transfer in direction of its UK-wide goal of 1.5 million new houses extra shortly, with restricted constructing on undeveloped greenfield land.
Prioritising brownfield websites would enable for faster timelines in comparison with greenfield developments, aiding the federal government in its goal of delivering 1.5 million new houses by 2030. A ‘brownfield-first’ strategy wouldn’t solely meet pressing housing demand extra shortly but additionally minimise the environmental influence related to city sprawl and undeveloped countryside.
The brand new analysis gathered knowledge from Native Authority brownfield registers as much as 2024, the newest years for which figures can be found. The variety of brownfield websites registered as appropriate for growth elevated by 16% over the time interval.
Brownfield land is a consistently renewing useful resource, and extra websites are coming ahead on a regular basis, as extra land on the town centres turns into obtainable and alternatives come up to rebuild low-density housing estates at increased densities.
Regardless of official coverage prioritising brownfield growth, 46% of housing developments in 2021/22 had been accomplished on greenfield land. In line with figures from the Native Authorities Affiliation (LGA) in 2021, there are prone to be a further 500,000 planning permissions for growth on greenfield websites. Constructing on greenfield land, slightly than repurposing brownfield websites, contributes to the degradation of our already nature-depleted landscapes and threatens the ecosystems that play a vital function in combating local weather change.
The revitalisation of those brownfield areas can result in the regeneration of communities, fostering social and financial progress. By remodeling uncared for areas into vibrant housing developments, a brownfield-first coverage can appeal to new residents and companies to city areas.
A brownfield-first strategy must be complemented by sustainable city extensions and the event of latest cities the place applicable. These extensions ought to incorporate important parts reminiscent of inexperienced areas, renewable power options, and sensible infrastructure, making certain that future communities aren’t solely purposeful but additionally environmentally sustainable and resilient.
CPRE is asking on the federal government to:
- Implement their brownfield-first coverage for brand new housing, together with by focusing Properties England funding on brownfield websites and rejecting speculative greenfield growth.
- Repeatedly replace their brownfield registers to make sure land might be redeveloped.
- Set bold and enforceable targets for each reasonably priced and social houses on shovel-ready brownfield websites.
CPRE chief government Roger Mortlock stated: “The federal government has pledged a brownfield-first strategy to new housing, however the actuality is extra pointless growth on inexperienced fields. A brand new strategy to native housing numbers has massively elevated the goal in lots of rural areas with none proof of native want and with out the infrastructure to help new communities. We all know that enormous builders favour constructing on our countryside, whereas the variety of brownfield websites continues to develop. Extra identikit, car-dependent government houses needlessly constructed on our countryside.
“The latest brownfield passports are an amazing first step, but when the federal government is critical a few brownfield-first strategy, it wants extra tooth. We want targets for brownfield websites, up-to-date brownfield registers, and funding in genuinely reasonably priced and social houses on brownfield land. If we would like houses that deal with the housing disaster, revitalise our cities and cities, and create vibrant, sustainable communities near present infrastructure, then these unused brownfield websites need to be the place we begin.”
The report might be accessed right here.
