CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY NEWS
Brownfield sites to boost building
CPRE Chief Executive Roger Mortlock said: “The government has pledged a brownfield-first approach, but the reality is more unnecessary development on green fields. If we want homes that tackle the housing crisis, revitalise our towns and cities, and create sustainable communities close to existing infrastructure, then these unused brownfield sites have to be the place we start.” The charity urged ministers to enforce brownfield-first rules, refresh local authority registers, and set clear targets for affordable and social homes on shovel- ready plots. For smaller firms, a stronger commitment to brownfield could mean more accessible, lower-risk sites coming to market. Scan the QR code for the full report.
S mall and medium-sized builders could deliver more homes on brownfield land, after research from countryside charity CPRE showed a rise in sites across England. The study found that over half of brownfield land already had permission in place in 2024, with enough sites available to build almost 1.5 million homes – which is the same number as the government’s target of new homes to be built by 2030. This suggests the target could be met more quickly – without resorting to greenfield development.
For small builders, this represents an opportunity to work on smaller, well- located projects that connect directly to existing infrastructure. Brownfield sites are typically near schools, transport links and healthcare, helping to speed up delivery and cut costs. Despite this potential, CPRE warned that developers continue to prioritise greenfield land. Nearly half of all new homes in 2021/22 were built on previously undeveloped sites, with another 500,000 greenfield planning permissions already in the pipeline.
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Master Builder
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