Members of the public are still able to submit requests for unused public land or buildings to be sold, under proposals recently announced by housing secretary Robert Jenrick.

According to the plans, if the land or buildings are determined to be underused with no plans to bring them into use, it would then be sold and the person making the request would be offered first right of refusal to buy.

The government says these proposals will make it far simpler for individuals or communities to make better use of public land and give a new lease of life to unused buildings.

The proposals are an extension of the ‘Right to Contest’, which was introduced in 2014 and gives the public the power to request the sale of underused public land.

Under the existing rules, those who request the sale of public land are not given a right of first refusal, which the government said disincentives people from making requests.

Since 2014, just 192 requests have been made under this power and only one has been granted, with the majority of requests being rejected because the owner had future plans for the land.

In a bid to strengthen the powers, the government is also proposing the introduction of a new definition of unused or underused land.

A consultation on the proposals, which opened in January, was due to close on 13 March, but this deadline has now been extended until 20 March.

Jenrick said: “Right to Regenerate is the simple way to turn public land into public good, with land sold by default, unless there is a very compelling reason not to do so.

“We are cutting through red tape so that communities can make better use of available land and derelict buildings, which means more new homes, businesses and community assets.

“Millions of people will now be able to buy that empty property, unused garage or parcel of land and turn it into something good for them and their community.”