Brownfield land could provide nearly 1.5 million new homes to help meet the Government’s goals, figures have revealed.
In a report from CPRE, titled ‘State of Brownfield 2025’, the countryside charity reveals that planning permission had already been granted for over half (55%) of the brownfield regions last year.
The data indicates that more than 800,000 homes could be delivered on the available sites, with sufficient land to build 1.48 million properties across the country.
The CPRE has highlighted that treating brownfield sites as a priority would increase the speed of developments compared to those built on greenfield land, while reducing damage to the environment.
However, according to an exclusive for The Guardian, green belt land is at risk of being impinged on due to housing developers’ urge to build on natural settings.
As part of the CPRE’s recommendations, the charity is pushing for the Government to apply a brownfield-first policy for new homes, as well as establishing ‘ambitious and enforceable targets’ for social and affordable housing and ensuring a register of brownfield sites is kept up-to-date.
Roger Mortlock, the chief executive officer of the CPRE, said: ‘If we want homes that tackle the housing crisis, revitalise our towns and cities, and create vibrant, sustainable communities close to existing infrastructure, then these unused brownfield sites have to be the place we start.’
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