Over half of brownfield sites could be built on rapidly, CPRE report shows

New research from CPRE, the countryside charity, reveals that 55% of brownfield sites received some full or in-principle permission in 2024, and over 800,000 new homes could be built rapidly.

The UK’s huge supply of brownfield land should be the first port of call for building the homes this country desperately needs. These sites are typically located near existing infrastructure, such as public transport, schools, and healthcare facilities, making them advantageous for development.

The research additionally shows that there are enough brownfield sites in England to build 1.49 million new homes, indicating that the government can move towards its UK-wide target of 1.5 million new homes more quickly with limited building on undeveloped greenfield land.

Prioritising brownfield sites would allow for quicker timelines compared to greenfield developments, aiding the government in its target of delivering 1.5 million new homes by 2030. A ‘brownfield-first’ approach would not only meet urgent housing demand more quickly but also minimise the environmental impact associated with urban sprawl and undeveloped countryside.

The new research gathered data from Local Authority brownfield registers up to 2024, using the most recent years for which figures are available. The number of brownfield sites registered as suitable for development increased by 16% over the time period.

Brownfield land is a constantly renewing resource, and more sites are coming forward all the time, as more land in town centres becomes available and opportunities arise to rebuild low-density housing estates at higher densities.

Despite official policy prioritising brownfield development, 46% of housing development in 2021/22 were completed on greenfield land. According to figures from the Local Government Association (LGA) in 2021, there are likely to be an additional 500,000 planning permissions for development on greenfield sites. Building on greenfield land, rather than repurposing brownfield sites, contributes to the degradation of our already nature-depleted landscapes and threatens the ecosystems that play a crucial role in combating climate change.

The revitalisation of these brownfield areas can lead to the regeneration of communities, fostering social and economic growth. By transforming neglected spaces into vibrant housing developments, a brownfield-first policy can attract new residents and businesses to urban areas.

A brownfield-first approach should be complemented by sustainable urban extensions and the development of new towns where appropriate. These extensions should incorporate essential elements such as green spaces, renewable energy solutions, and smart infrastructure, ensuring that future communities are not only functional but also environmentally sustainable and resilient.

CPRE is calling on the government to: 

• Enforce their brownfield-first policy for new housing, including by focusing Homes England investment on brownfield sites and rejecting speculative greenfield development.
• Regularly update their brownfield registers to ensure land can be redeveloped.
• Set ambitious and enforceable targets for both affordable and social homes on shovel-ready brownfield sites.

CPRE chief executive Roger Mortlock said: ‘The government has pledged a brownfield-first approach to new housing, but the reality is more unnecessary development on green fields. A new approach to local housing numbers has massively increased the target in many rural areas without any evidence of local need and without the infrastructure to support new communities. We know that large developers favour building on our countryside, while the number of brownfield sites continues to grow. More identikit, car-dependent executive homes needlessly built on our countryside.

‘The recent brownfield passports are a great first step, but if the government is serious about a brownfield-first approach, it needs more teeth. We need targets for brownfield sites, up-to-date brownfield registers, and investment in genuinely affordable and social homes on brownfield land. 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.’