Reaction to new build housing on brownfield sites

As the government unveils plans for "brownfield passports," this could be a golden ticket for housebuilders or simply a pandora's box of regulation that stifles urban development. Making "yes" the default answer for development that meets certain standards could be a game-changer for the sector by fast-tracking the planning process on previously used land. However, this could quickly become a bureaucratic maze with developers in a race to the bottom regarding quality and design. Furthermore, this could significantly increase the burden at the post-planning stage, with the potential for the default ‘yes’ system to green-light subpar projects that fail to consider local needs or environmental impacts. Therefore the scheme's success will largely depend on its implementation and the fine print of the "design and quality standards" required. As the government embarks on a new chapter of urban planning, it's up to developers and planners to ensure this doesn’t become a cautionary tale.

Whatever can speed up the planning process to green light consent will be very welcome, however this initiative doesn't solve the real issue. The real issue is that the entire planning system needs large investment and we need training and recruitment for planning officers. This is a great initiative but the devil will be in the detail and, as always with these things, beware the unintended consequences.

The problem isn’t identifying brownfield sites and getting permission to build under current legislation: this can happen easily enough. The problem is developers acquiring these sites, securing permission and then sitting on the sites for years to allow land values to increase. None of the new proposals will work without setting time limits on the permission with enforceable action if developers just sit on the land.