Call for evidence to launch as part of government plans to accelerate brownfield development

The Ministry of Housing, Local Government and Communities is to launch a call for evidence exercise to explore how to help accelerate housing development on brownfield sites.

The government is exploring how to introduce a ‘brownfield passport’ to that will expedite planning processes where proposed housing development that adheres to design and quality standards on previously developed and urban sites, such as car parks.

A call for evidence will be launched on options to further increase certainty in relation to brownfield development. These will include bold proposals that provide far greater clarity as to the principle, scale, and form of brownfield development with a view to lowering the risk, cost and uncertainty associated with securing planning permissions. 

The options will then be discussed with key stakeholders, before specific proposals are consulted on, and any new policies implemented.

The announcement of an upcoming call for evidence comes alongside an ongoing consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework as the government seeks to ramp up housebuilding to deliver 1.5 million new homes during this parliament in part through making new homes easier to build on brownfield sites and remove barriers in the planning process.

The proposed brownfield passport scheme would set out clear parameters for sites and developments that would serve as markets of acceptability and make for swifter approvals from planning authorities.