Brownfield land meaning

In this issue: Housing Building regulations Developments of national significance/infrastructure consents in Wales Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Related Documents Housing MHCLG publishes policy paper on brownfield passports. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has released a policy paper on ‘brownfield passports’. It outlines plans to maximise clarity and certainty around making best use of urban land, with further changes to policy at national and/or local level covering the principle, scale and form of development in different locations. Framed as a ‘brownfield passport’, policy would set clear parameters for brownfield schemes which, if satisfied, act as accepted indicators of suitability, making approval the default and accelerating decisions. The passport is intended to reduce the risk, cost and uncertainty of obtaining planning permission. These proposals sit within the government’s ‘brownfield first’ approach to development. See: LNB News 23/09/2024 12. Building regulations Welsh Government publishes statement on building safety. A new...

In this issue: Key developments and horizon scanning Transferring property Examining title Property insolvency Property taxes Property development Environment, energy and buildings Property in Scotland Further property updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers New Q&As Key developments and horizon scanning Law Society provides update on Renters’ Rights Bill second reading debate The Law Society’s weekly briefing on parliamentary activity reported on the Renters’ Rights Bill’s second reading in the House of Commons on 9 October 2024. Cross-party speakers backed the creation of a new landlord register to be introduced once the Bill becomes law. The Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook, stressed that government will ready HM Courts and Tribunals Service for the system’s rollout. He also made clear that reforming the private rented sector will not hinge on indeterminate future enhancements to the courts. The Bill cleared second reading and is scheduled to move into committee next month. See:...

In this issue: Planning conditions, obligations and CIL Planning for nationally significant infrastructure Planning policy Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Related Documents Planning conditions, obligations and CIL Planning conditions, obligations and CIL Government and Mayor unveil temporary London housing support package with 50% CIL cut and relaxed design rules On 23 October 2025, the government and the Mayor of London released ‘Homes for London: A package of support for housebuilding in the capital’. The agreement brings in time-limited 50% reductions to borough-level community infrastructure levy (CIL), a fresh fast-track pathway for projects with 20% affordable homes, and looser London Plan design benchmarks—each intended to re-energise halted residential output across the city. The bundle blends fiscal support, policy latitude and additional mayoral powers—each crafted to make it simpler to kick-start schemes. CIL relief: The flagship step is a temporary 50% reduction in borough-level CIL for eligible brownfield housing proposals delivering a...

What is land remediation relief? (LRR) LRR provides corporation tax relief on expenditure incurred in remediating contaminated land or in bringing derelict sites back into use. In 2009, the regime was broadened to address market failure by returning long-term derelict land to use, bringing such sites back into use. An incentive applies where land, whose development has been affected by various kinds of continuing dereliction, is brought back into productive use. The extension was intended to correct market failure by encouraging activity on sites blighted by ongoing dereliction. The relief was at risk of being discontinued after 2012; however, the 2012 Budget confirmed it would continue. The October 2024 HM Treasury Corporate Tax Roadmap, published alongside Autumn Budget 2024, notes the new Labour government’s commitment to a brownfield-first approach, prioritising the development of previously used land wherever possible. Given the time since the last review of LRR, and the potential for it to help progress the government’s objectives, the Roadmap announced that a consultation would be launched to...

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are now central to managing environmental risk, with mounting expectations on companies to evaluate their environmental and social performance. Sustainability underpins the Environment Agency’s (EA) land contamination risk management (LCRM) guidance, which requires climate change to be addressed within risk assessments. In recent years, organisations such as The Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment (SoBRA) and CL:AIRE have issued supporting guidance and schemes that reinforce the EA’s sustainability objective. For more on ESG, see Practice Note: ESG—new starter guide. What is environmental risk? The EA’s LCRM guidance, published in October 2020 and replacing the 2019/2020 versions, sets out how to assess and manage risks arising from land contamination. Environmental risk is one of several ESG matters relevant to organisations and stakeholders, alongside risk areas such as health and safety and data security management. Risk is defined as the combination of the probability, or frequency, that a specified hazard will occur and the magnitude of the consequences if it does. See Practice Note: Environmental...

Meaning of brownfield land A brownfield site is land that has been built on before and could be reused, enlarged or redeveloped. It usually comprises vacant, derelict or under‑utilised industrial and commercial areas. Redevelopment may encounter theoretical or actual environmental constraints. Most commonly these stem from contamination arising from historic activities, though other constraints can include invasive plant species, flooding and archaeology. What is the National Quality Mark Scheme? The National Quality Mark Scheme (NQMS) for Land Contamination Management, introduced in 2017 by the National Brownfield Forum (formerly the Land Forum), provides a clear identifier for documents that have been quality‑checked by a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP). Its purpose is to enhance confidence and improve the quality of submissions under regulatory processes, particularly planning applications, relating to brownfield land. It is recommended to view the map of local authorities that reference the NQMS. What is a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP)? A Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) is an experienced professional with expertise in land contamination. Their...