Brownfield sites to receive makeover
Twelve derelict brownfield sites in England have been earmarked for a multimillion pound makeover.
The brownfield sites will pilot a government scheme to breathe new life into 66,000 hectares (164,000 acres) of old industrial land. They have been highlighted in the first survey by national brownfield regeneration agency English Partnerships (EP) to determine how much underused brownfield land could be used for new business and housing, potentially saving greenfield areas from unwanted developments.
The areas of brownfield land, from old coalfields to former shipyards and steel works, are among 2,000 "hardcore" sites around the country which have been vacant since 1993.
As a last resort the agency, which has compulsory purchase powers, could acquire brownfield sites for redevelopment if it fails to reach agreement with landowners.
Some are said to be holding on to brownfield land with little market value in the hope that prices will eventually rise. In doing so they are holding back reclamation work. While many criticised the widespread dereliction in old industrial areas, little was known about the extent of the problem until the compilation of a national land use data base by EP. It identified more than 36,000 sites, with an average size of 1.85 hectares, largely concentrated in the north of England - with the 2,000 hardcore sites covering 16,800 hectares.
Paul Syms, national brownfield site strategy director of EP, said the survey had provided them with a very powerful tool to address the scale of the problem and produce remedies for particular areas. He said some companies with a history in manufacturing held on to derelict brownfield sites for understandable reasons because they were still classed as assets and they were reluctant to sell for a fraction of their true value.
Launching the scheme, housing and planning minister Keith Hill said: "This is the ultimate land recycling policy... helping to protect the countryside and enhance its quality rather than creating urban sprawl."
By renewing derelict brownfield sites and removing contamination, EP hopes to attract developers with a range of options - from creating new businesses to building houses, while turning some areas into parkland. Local people will first be consulted about their vision for a particular brownfield site and areas will be inspected by a member of EP's strategy team. Developers will then be invited to submit plans.
Source: The Guardian
