Brownfield funding package prioritises residential
A national £68 million funding package to unlock development on brownfield land is targeting housing at the expense of commercial, industrial and logistics development warns planning body.
By Liza Helps Property Editor Logistics Matters
THE ROYAL Town Planning Institute welcomes the investment in brownfield development but cautions against the narrow focus on housing.
“Prioritising housing could displace essential commercial, industrial, and logistics uses that are critical for sustaining local economic growth,” the RTPI said.
Announcing the funding this week Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “From the outset we promised to get this country building again to deliver 1.5 million homes over this parliament and help tackle the housing crisis we have inherited. That is the essence of fixing the foundations and driving growth.
“I said this government is on the side of the builders, not the blockers. And I meant it. This funding for councils will see disused sites and industrial wastelands transformed into thousands of new homes in places that people want to live and work. Our brownfield-first approach will not only ramp up housebuilding but also create more jobs, deliver much-needed infrastructure, and boost economic growth across the country.”
In response RTPI chief executive Victoria Hills, said: “While it is encouraging to see the government driving the development of more homes on brownfield land, it will need to ensure these projects are carefully planned and maintain a high standard of design quality, while preserving essential commercial and industrial employment spaces that are vital to creating sustainable, mixed-use areas and supporting local economies.”
The Government said that the £68 million, announced by the Prime Minister, will go directly to 54 councils who will be able to use the money to turn neglected land into new homes. It will transform local communities and help families onto the property ladder.
The funding will mean councils can clear empty buildings, former car parks and industrial land to make way for the homes. This category of land is expensive to prepare for housebuilding, meaning sites are sat empty and an eyesore for local communities.
With the funding, delivered through the Brownfield Land Release Fund, councils will be able to cover the cost of decontamination, clearing disused buildings or improving infrastructure such as internet, water and power. As a result, land will be released to enable 5,200 homes to be built across the country.
