Clark announces brownfield register pilots

Greg Clark, communities secretary, has today revealed which local authorities will be the first to draw up and maintain the registers, which will eventually become mandatory for all English councils.

The registers are designed to provide house builders with up-to-date information about brownfield sites available for housing. Ministers believe the information can help house builders identify sites quickly and speed up development. The government has pledged to build one million homes by 2020 and to get planning permission for housing in place on 90% of suitable brownfield sites.

Mr Clark said: “A key part of our ambition to build one million homes is to get work started on brownfield sites across the country – many of which are currently nothing more than a blight on a community’s landscape.”

The 15 councils with the most brownfield land, according to official statistics, have agreed to take part in the scheme, while a further 58 councils were selected following a competition. Each council will receive £10,000 in funding from the government to establish the registers.

The findings of the pilots will inform the final guidance on registers, which will become mandatory for all councils once the Housing and Planning Bill comes into effect.

THE COUNCILS TO PILOT BROWNFIELD LAND REGISTERS:

These 15 councils have the most brownfield land in England and will pilot the registers.

A further 36 areas made up of 58 councils (some bids are joint) were selected on a competitive basis: