Policies to boost brownfield land reuse

As part of the Government’s drive to build at least 60% of new homes on brownfield land, regeneration body English Partnerships has developed a set of policy recommendations and a ‘practical delivery toolkit,’ both accessible on the English Partnerships website.

Research published alongside the Brownfield Guide, which outlines best brownfield regeneration practice to help local authorities and developers maximise brownfield land reuse, found a total of 63,000ha of brownfield land is still underused across England, with the biggest proportion in the country’s most deprived areas.

Professor Paul Syms, national brownfield adviser to English Partnerships, said: “The link between dereliction and deprivation is well recognised, bringing with it a lack of economic activity, and general community health and self-esteem in blighted areas.

“I see good housing, public facilities and a high quality physical environment as being at the heart of communities and the health and well-being of individuals.

“Sensible appraisal of brownfield land for the full spectrum of uses can literally rejuvenate whole communities and our guidance and toolkit published today will help local authorities and their partners improve still further on the excellent work they have already done,” he said.

David Morris, head of regeneration at Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, welcomed the proposed policies and practical guidance, saying it will help “tackle those run-down areas which all communities have to lesser or greater degree, and which can have such a disproportionate negative impact on the people who live in them.”

Details of the consultation can be found here.

Goska Romanowicz