Brownfield land could be used to build a million homes – with one quarter of it in local councils’ ownership

In London, 40% of brownfield land with potential to build on is owned by councils.

A report by Daniel Watney, an independent property consultancy, has identified over 23,000 hectares of brownfield land in England, with over 10,000 hectares suitable for housing.

Nationally, the sites identified have the potential capacity for over 460,000 homes.

On brownfield land owned by the public sector, there is space for nearly 120,000 homes.

However, the report says that it can only report on the data available, and that if there were complete information available for all local authorities and government departments, there would be “a significant increase” in potential housing on brownfield sites.

It estimates that over one million homes could be built nationally on previously developed land.

Its new report crunches figures from only 45% of local councils in England, leaving a question mark over the remaining 55%. In London, the research covered just six councils. All the statistics are official ones.

Of the councils that it has analysed, it says Liverpool has a total of 467 sites with estimated potential for 19,000 new homes. Of these sites, 22 are publicly owned.

But while Liverpool comes out on top in terms of potential brownfield supply, even lower-placed councils have sites to offer: in Woking, Surrey, for example, there are ten sites with capacity for 500 new homes, and all ten sites are publicly owned.

The report makes the point that many cities such as Birmingham, Liverpool, Oxford, Sheffield and Bristol, are surrounded by swathes of green belt, but have the potential to utilise their existing stores of brownfield land.

So, why don’t councils simply survey brownfield opportunities on their patches?

James Davis, partner at Daniel Watney, says that while building on brownfield land is the “least toxic option” for politicians, it involves more risk and cost for builders.

However, in planning terms, going for a brownfield site would also be far quicker.

The report calls on councils to show “the necessary political will”.

The report won support from housing minister Brandon Lewis here