We need to be smarter about our use of land

LATEST statistics show exactly what happens when the government doesn’t prioritise previously used land for housebuilding.

We’re seeing a record low number of houses built on brownfield land since this data was first collected nearly 40 years ago. We are wasting precious countryside for no reason.

CPRE’s own research has shown that over 1.3 million homes can be built on brownfield land, but the proportion of this land being used for development is decreasing while greenfield developments continue to accelerate.

If the new Prime Minister is serious about his brownfield first policy, which he re-committed to in PMQs, we need more than just soundbites. The government must introduce a comprehensive brownfield first policy in the National Planning Policy Framework, which is up for review imminently, including a minimum density of 30 dwellings per hectare.

With an escalating food, energy and climate crisis, we need to get smart about how we use our land – starting with a genuine brownfield first policy.

Tom Fyans Interim chief executive of CPRE