The Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities have today announced plans for brownfield regeneration, inner-city densification, and housing delivery across England.

As part of the long-term housing strategy, the government has recommitted brownfield regeneration as part of housing delivery. The government has allocated £800 million from the £1.5 billion Brownfield, Infrastructure, and Land fund to unlock up to 56,000 new homes on these previously developed areas.

Responding to the plan, Guto Davies, Director of Policy at the Environmental Industries Commission said:

"These initiatives for brownfield regeneration and housing delivery are a significant step forward in addressing the pressing challenges our communities face today. The commitment to allocate substantial funding for brownfield sites demonstrates the government's recognition of the immense potential these areas hold. 

“To unlock further potential, the recently published EIC Manifesto calls on government to introduce a greenfield surcharge as part of the infrastructure levy. The levy has the potential to incentivise development on brownfield land by reflecting viability and encouraging innovation. The funds from this surcharge can be earmarked for infrastructure spending by the local authority, mitigating the higher development costs of brownfield sites.”

EIC’s Policy Manifesto, recently published at the Parliamentary Reception, also calls on government to increase land remediation tax relief on sites with fewer than 25 units from 150% to 200% and updating the tax relief definition of “derelict land” to be land unused since 1 April 2011.

In addition to the financial support, the government aims to expedite new developments and empower local communities to construct their own homes through additional reforms to the planning system. A new fund of £24 million has been announced to scale up local planning capacity, while an extra £13.5 million will be dedicated to establishing a new "super-squad" of experts to support large-scale development projects and unlock planning decisions efficiently.