Two-thirds of homes on brownfield sites could be delivered within the next five years

Most of the brownfield land identified was also within urban areas that already had infrastructure and where there was a higher demand for housing.

The report found that the 17,656 sites identified by local planning authorities would provide enough land for a minimum of 1,052,124 homes in the UK, (many of which are in the North), which could rise to over 1.1 million once all registers are published. Across Yorkshire, local authorities have identified space for more than 100,000 homes on suitable brownfield land, equivalent to six years’ worth of housing need; 65,000 of these homes are deliverable in the next five years.

Rebecca Pullinger, planning campaigner at the CPRE, said it was fantastic that local authorities had identified so many sites on brownfield land.

“Contrary to what the government and other commentators have said, brownfield sites are also available in areas with high housing pressure. Indeed, our analysis is conservative with its estimates of [the] potential number of homes that could be built – the figure could [be] much higher if density is increased and if more registers looked at small sites.”

The registers have found sites for over 400,000 homes that have not yet come forward for planning permission, despite the need to move sites towards development. The CPRE also found that there was brownfield capacity in areas where there was a threat to the green belt, particularly in the North West, where local authorities identified enough brownfield land to satisfy up to 12 years’ worth of housing need.

The group is now calling on the government to take the opportunity presented by the upcoming review of the National Planning Policy Framework to introduce a brownfield-first approach to land release and granting planning permission for development.

“The government needs to get on with amending its guidance to make sure that councils identified all the available brownfield sites in their areas. They then need to improve incentives to build on these sites and ensure that they follow through on their commitment that all new builds should be on brownfield first.” added Rebecca.

VHE are vastly experienced in efficiently removing contaminants from brownfield sites to prepare them for development while maximising real added value by re-engineering excavated materials into highways grade fill and recycled aggregates while providing clients with confidence that all works will be carried out in-house in line with the current environmental permitting regime as it applies to construction works. Combined with deployment of our in-house mobile treatment permit we are able to offer assured solutions including bioremediation, soil solidification and stabilisation and groundwater treatment which is all part of our service and continues to maintain our reputation as one of leading land remediation and infrastructure enabling contractors in the UK.

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