Derelict and underused brownfield sites across England will be transformed into thousands of new homes, creating thriving communities and levelling up the country

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said today that thousands of new houses will be built on abandoned and underutilized brownfield sites around England, fostering thriving communities and levelling the nation (8 July 2022).

Councils can now submit applications for a portion of the new £180 million Brownfield Land Release Fund 2, which will help turn abandoned urban areas into 17,600 new homes and about 54,000 new jobs over the course of the next four years.

To support neighbourhood regeneration initiatives, a first £40 million is available. This will free up council land for about 4,000 new houses (and creating 12,400 jobs).

The action will assist thousands of young people and families become homeowners while boosting local economies.

Over the next two years, municipalities will receive the final £140 million of the Brownfield Land Release Fund 2.

The program is a component of the government’s strategy to improve neighbourhoods nationwide and provide new spaces for people to live and work.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, minister of government efficiency, said:

The chance for regeneration, efficiency gains in government operations, and a critical role in addressing the housing deficit while boosting homeownership are all made possible by the land’s opening up.

I’m glad this work is finally being completed after numerous efforts over the years.

This will help the economy, encourage the creation of thousands of jobs, and provide many young families their first foot on the housing ladder by turning abandoned and neglected property into charming new hamlets or villages.

By funding modest infrastructure and remediation projects to free up land for new dwellings, the fund intends to support the transformation of small council-owned sites that have already been developed.

The inaugural Brownfield Land Release Fund, which distributed £77 million to councils nationwide to free up brownfield properties for over 7,750 new houses, was a success; examples include:

As part of this, the Griffin Housing Regeneration site in Blackburn will receive £670,000 from the Lancashire One Public Estate partnership to help with land remediation.

This made it possible for the first phase of the site’s development to move forward and produce 140 new homes for affordable rent or shared ownership.

Blackpool’s Ryscar Way development received a new traffic system for £400,000. 51 new dwellings were able to be built thanks to the increased road access.

44 new homes for first-time homebuyers and senior citizens in the neighbourhood were made possible in Rotherham thanks to £300,000 that was used to unlock the sites of 2 former adult care residential institutions.

The One Public Estate partnership between the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Office of Government Property, and the Local Government Association will once again be used to deliver the new fund.

Councils will be able to make decisions about the type, tenure, and delivery method for the new homes based on their knowledge of the local needs.

They have until August 19, 2022, to submit their applications through the local OPE Partnership’s approved accountable authority.