Brownfield database needs updating

A new report by English Partnerships (EP) has said that local government systems for recording brownfield sites need revamping if government targets for brownfield development are to be met.

The report by the regeneration agency is likely to cause a major shake up in the way that the government monitors the location of brownfield sites that are suitable for development.

Government targets state that 60% of new homes must be built on brownfield land by 2020.

At present, local councils have no obligation to provide data on brownfield sites in their area.

This voluntary approach to brownfield monitoring needs to change, say researchers at Kingston University, who helped EP to compile the report.

In addition, they recommend that the exact dimensions of brownfield sites should be monitored, rather than just the co-ordinates of sites - the only data currently availabe to government agencies.

Currently, information on brownfield sites is held in the ten-year old National Land Use Database of Previously Developed Land (NLUD-PDL).

EP’s report says the NLUD is out of date, and needs to take advantage of new technologies.

Other recommendations include: