UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – CPRE data reveals 1.5m homes possible on brownfield land, sparking calls for a “brownfield-first” policy against Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s stance.
As reported by The Guardian, new data suggests that about 1.5 million homes could be built on England’s brownfield land, easing pressure on green belt areas while meeting government housing targets.
Developers are still prioritizing green land for housing, encroaching on areas of outstanding natural beauty despite the wide availability of brownfield sites.
What did CPRE data reveal about England’s brownfield sites?
The countryside charity CPRE is urging ministers to enforce a brownfield-first policy to meet 1.5 million homes and tackle increasing development on green land.
Local authority data shows a 16% increase in brownfield sites across England in the 12 months to 2024.
According to the data, 30,257 brownfield sites across England could accommodate 1.49 million homes over 32,884 hectares.
The charity said brownfield land is a constantly renewing resource, including former retail spaces, disused factories, and empty commercial buildings.
The figures indicate England has sufficient brownfield land nationwide to meet the government’s 1.5 million home target while preserving green belt and natural areas.
The data shows that 54% of brownfield areas have planning permission and could be delivered within five years under national planning guidelines.
Local authorities have identified 790,000 properties’ worth of brownfield land, already meeting more than half of the government’s 1.5 million home target.
CPRE reports that nearly half of developments in 2021–22, 46%, took place on green belt land, harming natural habitats. They added that new housing projects were constantly emerging in the countryside.
The figures come as ministers prepare the new planning and infrastructure bill, which eases environmental laws to speed up approvals.
The Office for Environmental Protection says the bill remains a regression of environmental rules, even with some changes.
What did Roger Mortlock say about brownfield-first housing?
Roger Mortlock, the chief executive officer of the CPRE, stated,
“If the government is serious about a brownfield-first approach, it needs more teeth … We know that large developers favour building on our countryside, with more identikit, car-dependent executive homes being needlessly built on our countryside.”
He added,
“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.”
Mr Mortlock said these projects harmed nature and lacked local services or transport, forcing residents to rely on cars.
What did Keir Starmer say about brownfield housing?
New data appears to challenge Sir Keir Starmer’s claims that 1.5 million homes cannot be built on brownfield land.
Keir Starmer said,
“We must be honest, we cannot build the homes Britain needs without also releasing some land currently classed as green belt.”
Which regions have enough brownfield land for housing growth?
Brownfield sites are available in the main regions targeted for government housebuilding growth.
In London, brownfield land could deliver 535,000 homes. The South-East could accommodate 190,814, while the West Midlands has sites for 191,004 homes.
Home Builders Federation’s views on brownfield land
The Home Builders Federation stated,
“Not all brownfield land is viable for development, with many sites facing a range of complex challenges. Suitability depends on the land’s ownership, remediation requirements, location, accessibility and attractiveness to potential residents.”
They added,
“Many will be sites that are attractive to retail or other commercial developers who, by not being subject to the taxes and requirements placed on residential developers, can often bid more for land.”
UK government pledges to build homes
The UK government aims to build 1.5 million homes in England by August 2029. In the first year (July 2024–June 2025), just 186,600 homes were delivered, falling 113,400 short of the annual target.
Major challenges include record-low planning approvals and a shortage of construction skills. Weak market demand further threatens the government’s ability to meet its housing goals.
Key facts about the planning and infrastructure bill
The bill aims to speed up approvals for major infrastructure projects and limit meritless legal challenges. It introduces Environmental Delivery Plans and a Nature Restoration Levy to fund large-scale conservation.
The government plans to boost housing by supporting 1.5 million homes, strengthening development corporation powers, and easing land assembly. Mandatory training for local planning committees is also included to improve planning decisions.