Government to release more brownfield land for development, says Shapps

In an update on the Government's progress in releasing public sector land for development, the Government announced that it had identified enough surplus public land to build up to 102,000 new homes.

The Government's target was to release enough surplus land to build 100,000 new homes by 2015. "But we're not stopping there - I'm determined to continue looking for more sites suitable for housebuilding," said Housing Minister Grant Shapps.

The public sector owns an estimated 40% of larger sites that are suitable for development across public services including the NHS, Ministry of Defence and Department for Transport.

The Government has earmarked a former Ministry of Defence brownfield site for release, which could support the building of up to 600 new homes. The Government's progress report (23-pages / 103 KB PDF) details the proposed amount of land that each Government department has identified as suitable for release.

The 'Build Now, Pay Later' model will also be extended to as many sites as possible, said Shapps, "to help developers make the most of the sites on offer."

Under the model, developers can start work on site immediately, with improved cash flow, because they only pay for the land when certain development thresholds have been met.

The Government will continue to identify and make available as many brownfield and previously-used sites as possible, to aid the development of more affordable homes, it said.

Ministers will also make information about surplus public land freely available so that local people can see what opportunities exist to advance projects and meet local needs such as for free schools, businesses or new homes, the Government said.