CPRE, the countryside charity, has said that brownfield passports could speed-up housebuilding processes for 1.5m new homes
CPRE has stated that brownfield passports could speed-up housebuilding as Labour gets Britain building again.
Brownfield passports are a new scheme proposed by the government to catalyse the application process for construction on brownfield sites.
Brownfield passports would speed-up housebuilding
The government is looking at brownfield sites as a key area for development and construction work.
Their objectives with brownfield sites are:
- Bringing vacant and under-used brownfield sites into more productive use
- Identifying where existing developed land would benefit from redevelopment, intensification or a change of use, including in suburban areas
- Having clear policies to communicate these opportunities, with plans and development proposals informed by the views of local communities
- Ensuring such development contributes to making great places supporting healthy, resilient communities
The brownfield passport would mean that the default answer to developing bronwfield sites is yes, as long as it meets certain design and quality standards. This will not open the gate for any and all developments, but will make the standards required much clearer and easier to follow.
CPRE supports the idea
CPRE head of policy and planning, Paul Miner, said: “CPRE welcomes the government’s announcement of ‘brownfield passports’ that would give permission in principle for appropriate developments on areas of brownfield land.
“There are enough shovel-ready brownfield sites in England alone for 1.2 million new homes and we have been calling on the government to deliver on its commitments to a brownfield-first approach to housebuilding. ‘Brownfield passports’ could help speed up delivery of these much-needed homes by reducing the risk that planning permission would not be given, incentivising housebuilders to buy and develop brownfield land.
“It’s crucial that communities are consulted on new developments, which should therefore be delivered in line with agreed local plans.
“We urge the government to require a significant proportion of new homes to be genuinely affordable homes and, in particular, available for social rent. As well as a focus on developing brownfield, we need to see ambitious targets for genuinely affordable and social rented homes that the market, dominated by a small number of large players, has failed to deliver.”
