Brownfield development

The term ‘brownfield land’ refers to land that has been used in the past for industrial purposes. In policy terms, brownfield land is defined in the National Planning Policy Framework as land that is or has been occupied by a permanent structure. Developing brownfield sites is one of the key mechanisms for remediating land affected by its industrial past.

After introducing the topic, this section examines the current political climate and the main brownfield development incentives in place following the abandonment of national targets.

Land remediation relief topics are then explored in a series of helpful FAQs, and the key points summarised in a conclusion.

This section is maintained by Jamie Mills, Director of environmental consultancy Wedg.

Document template: Contamination and environmental matters: property observation checklists

Document template: Environmental impact assessment checklist

Feature: Asbestos: reducing risk in soil on brownfield sites

Feature: Brownfield redevelopment: preventing delays

isurv section: Environmental considerations

RICS journal article: Boost your tax savings and unlock toxic land

RICS journal article: What lessons does Cambridge green belt project offer?

RICS research: Making more brownfield land available for housing (RICS)