Countryside campaigners CPRE [1] are calling on the Government to increase its target [2] for the proportion of new homes built on brownfield land from 60% to 85%, as new research reveals the huge scale of wasted and neglected land.

CPRE’s research [3] is being launched today (Tuesday) at the Cityscape Conference, Earls Court [4]. It shows that a vast amount of land within towns and cities crying out for development is going to waste. Many councils are failing to identify sites that would benefit from redevelopment or take action to encourage their development, blighting communities and environments.

NOTE FOR EDITORS

Copies of CPRE’s report Untapped Potential identifying and delivering residential development on previously developed land and executive summary are available from CPRE’s press office.

The study found the neglect of sites such as empty or underused car parks, derelict land and former industrial premises to be commonplace.

Kate Gordon, CPRE planning campaigner, said:

‘Our research shows significant opportunities for development on brownfield sites are being missed, for a variety of reasons. London alone has enough small sites close to town centres to accommodate around 60,000 new homes – the equivalent of six Barking Riverside developments. [5]’

The study highlights how both rural and urban communities benefit from making effective use of urban brownfield land. Two leading architects have supported CPRE’s call for more effective use of land:

George Ferguson, broadcaster and former RIBA chair, said:

‘The best protection of both our countryside and the urban environment is to beautify and intensify our towns and cities. Creativity and ingenuity can produce surprising and original windfall development. The untapped potential is enormous and exciting.’

Lord Rogers of Riverside, in his foreword to the report, said:

‘National policy has for the past six years prioritised development on urban brownfield sites over greenfield land. This “sequential approach” has acted as a catalyst, turning around the fortunes of run down areas and underpinning the revival of town and city centres. After a century of exodus people are returning to city centres and suburban sprawl is being reduced.’

Under changes to planning rules [6] councils face far more pressure to allocate land for housing than they did in the past. But most have a choice: to either allow significantly more greenfield development or take steps to ensure that underused or abandoned land and buildings are re-used and recycled wherever possible.

Kate Gordon concluded:

‘Tremendous progress has been made since the Government set a national target for 60% of new homes to be built on brownfield sites in 1998. The latest figures show further improvement, with more than three quarters of new homes now built on brownfield sites. [7] We believe there is a compelling case for the proportion of new homes built on brownfield sites to be increased to at least 85%.’
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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2. In 1998, the Government set a national target for at least 60 per cent of new housing to be built on previously developed land or through conversions by 2008. This target was reached eight years early. In 2005, 77% of homes were built on previously developed land or through conversions, according to Government figures. In the light of this achievement and the findings of our report, CPRE is calling for the national target to be increased to at least 85% and for measures through the Comprehensive Spending Review to support this.

3. CPRE commissioned consultants Llewelyn Davies Yeang to research current practice on identifying, and realising development on, brownfield land. The study, Untapped Potential: identifying and delivering residential development on previously developed land, comprised a review of urban capacity studies across England, case studies, interviews and site visits. The study found that:

• Councils vary widely in their approach to identifying capacity for development on brownfield land;
• many Councils significantly underestimate the potential of brownfield land to accommodate new homes;
• the contribution from small sites in particular is seriously underestimated – in some areas, up to 90% of new homes are built on small sites – estimates are typically far lower than this;
• better monitoring and site surveys (as opposed to desk top surveys) are essential to give an accurate picture of the number of new homes that can be built on brownfield land, and;
• the existence of a thorough capacity study provides no guarantee that brownfield land will be developed, even where market and site conditions are promising. A commitment on the part of decision makers, planners, developers and communities to making the most of brownfield land is essential.

Copies of Untapped Potential are available to the press on request. Copies are available to the general public, price £5.00, from CPRE Publications 020 7981 2856, or can be downloaded free of charge from www.cpre.org.uk from Tuesday 27 February.

4. At the launch on Tuesday 27 February, Patrick Clarke from Llewelyn Davies Yeang will present the findings of his team’s research. This will followed by a presentation on one of the case study areas, Plymouth. The morning will conclude with a panel debate on whether there is enough brownfield land to meet our housing requirements. The launch runs from 10:15 am -12:30 pm. For more details visit the : Untapped Potential - Identifying and Delivering Residential Development on Previously DevelopedCityscapes website Land: Overview of Recent Practice.

5. As part of the study, researchers visited sites close to town centres in London which were identified as being available for development in London ten years ago to see what development had taken place since. More than 10,000 homes are planned as part of the Barking Riverside development in the Thames Gateway.

6. The Government’s Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3), published in December 2006, comes into force on April 1. For example the South East Regional Planning Assembly (SEERA) has expressed concern about the new rules which prevent councils from relying on unexpected ‘windfall’ sites when planning where new homes will be built. They fear this will lead to greenfield land being developed for housing unnecessarily. To read their news release, visit the The South East Regional Assembly website: Government creates Greenfield grab for new homes.

7. An estimated 77% of new homes in England built were on brownfield land or through conversions in 2005. Land Use Change Statistics, January update 2007, DCLG.