§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the amount of available brownfield land suitable for housing development; [85449]
(2) what estimate he has made of the amount of available brownfield land suitable for industrial development; [85450]
(3) what is his current estimate of the amount of available brownfield land suitable for retail development. [85457]
§ Mr. RaynsfordProvisional results from the National Land Use Database were published on 20 May. These show an estimate of 33,000 hectares of previously developed vacant and derelict land across England. Some 4,800 hectares of this land was allocated in local plans or had planning permission for housing, about 4,500 hectares for mixed use and around 13,400 for other uses. In total, just over 12,000 hectares of vacant and derelict land either had planning permission or were allocated in the local plan for housing or were judged suitable for housing. Suitability was not assessed for retail or industrial development.
The National Land Use Database also included sites currently in use but allocated in local plans for redevelopment or with planning permission for housing; other sites expected to become available for redevelopment; and sites occupied by vacant commercial buildings. Such sites accounted for an estimated 23,000 hectares, of which over 5,000 hectares were allocated for redevelopment in plans or had planning permission for housing and a total of over 14,000 hectares were judged suitable for housing.
A copy of the DETR/Government Statistical Service Bulletin has been placed in the House of Commons Library.