The Government is ramping up its commitment to a ‘brownfield first’ strategy, unveiling fresh plans to accelerate the approval process for urban sites, such as car parks, and similar underused spaces.

In line with the ongoing National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) consultation, there’s a move toward introducing what’s being termed a ‘brownfield passport.’ This initiative would establish a system where, if development proposals meet specific design and quality benchmarks, the default position is approval.

A new call for evidence is on the horizon, aimed at gathering insights into how certainty around brownfield projects can be further strengthened.

This process will explore various options that would provide much clearer guidelines on the principle, scope, and structure of brownfield developments. The objective here is to reduce the costs, risks, and ambiguity tied to obtaining planning consent.

These options won’t exist in isolation; they’ll be debated with key stakeholders, paving the way for more targeted consultations on detailed proposals before any new policies are officially rolled out.

As part of its broader goal to deliver 1.5 million homes within this Parliament's term, the Government has already laid the groundwork for a ‘brownfield first’ approach. Through the NPPF consultation, it’s made strides in emphasizing that brownfield development, in principle, is a favourable option.