Government commits £68m to build housing on brownfield sites

The government has granted £68m of funding for councils to unlock disused brownfield sites and enable delivery of 5,200 homes. The money, delivered via the Brownfield Land Release Fund, will be given to 54 councils to clear empty buildings, former car parks and industrial land to make way for new homes.  Councils will be able to cover the cost of decontamination, clearing disused buildings or improving infrastructure such as internet, water and power. Some of the projects to benefit from the funding include a vacant brownfield site in Manchester where a £2.9m grant will help the council to build 220 affordable homes. Elsewhere, £2.2m will be provided to Eastbourne to transform a former industrial site and build 100 homes, including 80 affordable homes. Over £1.7m will go to Weston-Super-Mare to allow over 100 homes to be built on brownfield land, and £1.4m to Northampton to transform a former bus depot and deliver 72 homes. Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “This funding for councils will see disused sites and industrial wastelands transformed into thousands of new homes in places that people want to live and work. “Our brownfield-first approach will not only ramp up housebuilding but also create more jobs, deliver much-needed infrastructure, and boost economic growth across the country.” Housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook said: “The government is committed to a brownfield-first approach to housebuilding, and we have already taken steps to prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land through our proposals for a ‘brownfield passport’. “The funding announced today will support the delivery of thousands of new homes and boost economic growth by unlocking development on scores of abandoned, disused and neglected urban sites across the country.” Photo © Maureen McLean/Shutterstock