Insurance News Archive

1m more homes on brownfield sites

The government claims one million more homes could be built in the UK on brownfield land.

Statistics from the Department for Communities and Local Government show 63,500 hectares of previously developed land was available for development in 2005 with 44 per cent of this land judged to be suitable for housing.

The remaining brownfield land was made available for other uses such as commerce or recreation.

In the south-east, where demand for houses is greatest, it is estimated there is enough brownfield land for over 400,000 new homes.

Planning minister Baroness Kay Andrews said: "This government has made it clear that suitable brownfield land must be a priority for any new development and that is why three-quarters of all new developments are already being built on previously developed sites.

"There is a real need to build more homes if we are to meet the housing needs of future generations and these statistics show that many of these could go on re-used sites."

Currently, 74 per cent of all new developments are on brownfield land.

30 Aug 2006