The proportion of new homes which are built on this type of land currently stands at 60 per cent, but environmental campaigners feel this target should be raised to 85 per cent as vast areas of city land are still crying out for development.
The commonplace neglect of empty car parks, derelict land and former industrial areas is proving to be an ongoing issue as significant development opportunities are continually being overlooked.
Lord Rogers of Riverside comments: 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.
Under changes to planning rules, 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.
The existing 60 per cent target was set in place almost a decade ago in 1998 so it comes as no surprise that there are calls for it to be increased as there has been a great deal of progress over this time period.
Broadcaster and former RIBA chair, George Ferguson added: The best protection of both our countryside and the urban environment is to beautify and intensify our towns and cities the untapped potential is enormous and exciting.
Find your ideal house, flat or apartment here
Loading ...