The Government has underlined its commitment to a ‘brownfield first’ housing delivery strategy by announcing a fresh round of funding for housing delivery on previously developed land.
In October, an additional £68 million in funding was announced by the Prime Minister. The Brownfield Release Fund will go directly to 54 councils that will be able to use the money to turn neglected land into new homes. The funding will allow councils to clear vacant buildings, unused car parks, and industrial land to create space for new homes. It can also be used to cover decontamination costs or to improve essential infrastructure like internet, water, and power.
This funding continues the efforts of the previous government, which allocated millions in capital grants to councils across England to transform neglected land into housing. The Brownfield Release Fund, designed to revitalise communities and boost local economies, offers local authorities a major opportunity to free up land for new housing developments.
And while there is opportunity here for councils, there will be some hurdles they may face while maximising the funding to develop brownfield sites. Below, we’ll address some of the most common challenges with brownfield site development and how LandTech can help.