How to get Planning Permission for Brownfield Land

The term ‘brownfield land’ is much used in the media, where it’s often heralded as the logical focus for new large-scale housing development.

The phrase may conjure up images of acres of post-industrial degradation, but brownfield plots can provide excellent opportunities for self-builders.

So what exactly does brownfield mean, when might this kind of site be suitable for one-off home building projects and – should you find one – what are the challenges you might face in securing planning consent?

What is brownfield land?

The word ‘brownfield’ doesn’t actually appear in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which is the principal statement of government planning policy. Instead, the NPPF refers to previously-developed land. This is more closely defined as:

“… land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure, including the curtilage of the developed land (although it should not be assumed that the whole of the curtilage should be developed) and any associated fixed surface infrastructure.”

The full definition sets out a number of important exclusions, including certain types of land situated in built-up areas, such as private gardens, parks, recreation grounds and allotments.

In rural locations, land occupied by agricultural or forestry buildings is also omitted, along with that used for mineral extraction and landfill. If the remains of permanent structures have blended into the landscape over time, these types of site are also barred from the brownfield definition.

The post How to get Planning Permission for Brownfield Land appeared first on Build It.

Article reference How to get Planning Permission for Brownfield Land