Almost 1.5 Million Homes Could Be Built on Brownfield Sites Without Touching the Green Belt
A new report from the countryside charity CPRE has revealed that England holds enough brownfield land to deliver almost 1.5 million new homes—meeting the government’s ambitious housing target while protecting the nation’s green belt and natural landscapes.
According to CPRE’s analysis of 2023 and 2024 brownfield registers, local councils across England have identified 30,257 sites spanning more than 32,000 hectares, capable of delivering 1.4 million dwellings. Crucially, 54% of these sites already have planning permission, meaning over 770,000 homes are “shovel-ready” and could be built within five years under the current National Planning Policy Framework.
Brownfield-First Housing Development
The findings demonstrate that a brownfield-first approach could achieve the government’s pledge of 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament, without bulldozing countryside or encroaching on the green belt. CPRE is now urging ministers to strengthen policy and ensure developers prioritise urban regeneration over greenfield expansion.
Roger Mortlock, Chief Executive of CPRE, said:
“If the government is serious about a brownfield-first approach, it needs to back it with stronger measures. Too often, large developers chase easy profits from car-dependent estates on green land, when sustainable, affordable housing could be built on existing brownfield sites.”
Why Brownfield Matters
Brownfield land offers a constantly renewing resource, ranging from disused factories and redundant commercial sites to former retail centres in towns and cities. Building on these areas not only helps tackle the housing crisis but also supports urban regeneration, reduces pressure on rural communities, and creates affordable homes where they are most needed.
Across the country, brownfield land availability aligns with the regions prioritised for housing growth:
- London: capacity for 535,000 homes
- South East: 190,814 homes
- West Midlands: 191,004 homes
This evidence challenges Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent comments that new homes cannot be delivered without releasing parts of the green belt. CPRE argues that developers are exploiting weak enforcement of brownfield-first policy, with 46% of new housing between 2021 and 2022 built on greenfield or green belt sites, often without proper infrastructure or community services.
The Call for Action
CPRE is calling on the government to:
- Enforce a robust brownfield-first policy
- Set ambitious targets for affordable and social housing on shovel-ready sites
- Invest in remediation to unlock more complex brownfield plots
“England has the space, the sites, and the opportunity,” Mortlock added. “What we need now is political will to direct investment towards sustainable brownfield housing development, ensuring affordable homes are built where they are needed most.”
Government Response
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said:
“We will leave no stone unturned to build 1.5 million homes. Brownfield is our first port of call, but not all sites are viable. Councils must consider all options to meet housing need, and we’ve invested millions to unlock previously developed land.”
