Sussex has enough brownfield sites for over 26,000 new homes

New research from CPRE, the countryside charity, reveals that there are brownfield sites with space for over 26,000 new homes in Sussex – and that around 50% of these homes already have full or outline planning permission meaning that they could be built rapidly.

The research additionally shows that there are enough brownfield sites across England to build 1.4 million new homes, indicating that the government can move towards its UK-wide target of 1.5 million new homes more quickly with limited building on undeveloped greenfield land.

The UK’s huge supply of brownfield land should be the first port of call for building the homes this country desperately needs. These sites are typically located near existing infrastructure, such as public transport, schools, and healthcare facilities, making them advantageous for development.

Prioritising brownfield sites would allow for quicker timelines compared to greenfield developments, aiding the government in its target of delivering 1.5 million new homes by 2030. A ‘brownfield-first’ approach would not only meet urgent housing demand more quickly but also minimise the environmental impact associated with urban sprawl and undeveloped countryside.

CPRE is calling on the government to: 

• Enforce their brownfield-first policy for new housing, including by focusing Homes England investment on brownfield sites and rejecting speculative greenfield development.
• Regularly update their brownfield registers to ensure land can be redeveloped.
• Set ambitious and enforceable targets for both affordable and social homes on shovel-ready brownfield sites.

Read: the full press release including figures for Sussex local planning authorities

The full data can be accessed here.