A new initiative to create a database of publicly owned land in London has taken the first step…
The first stage of compiling a register of brownfield land in London is underway. The initiative, which is set to complete by the end of the year, will assist with home building in the capital.
Housing Minister Brandon Lewis announced the scheme, which will involve the Greater London Authority (GLA), 32 London boroughs, and the government.
Real estate research firm Savills is leading the first phase of compiling the comprehensive set of data. Once the information has been collated it will be given to the GLA to develop a map of brownfield sites across the city.
It is hoped the database will speed up development on brownfield sites and will go some way to tackling the national—and indeed local—housing shortage.
This initiative is not the first time the planning system has gone digital in the capital. In 2013, Mayor of London Boris Johnson launched a database of GLA holdings. This was part of the push to make public land readily available for redevelopment.