Planning framework leaves it to councils to decide whether to prioritise previously-used land
Councils will be free to draw up their own brownfield land target under the final version of the National Planning Policy Framework, published today.
However, the document does not insist that councils draw up policies on previously developed land, leaving them free to prioritise greenfield or edge of town sites if preferred.
The draft of the NPPF published last summer made no reference to brownfield land, leading to criticisms that the decade long 鈥渂rownfield first鈥� presumption in the planning system was being removed.
Today鈥檚 document said: 鈥淧lanning policies and decisions should encourage the effective use of land by re-using land that has been previously developed (brownfield land), provided that it is not of high environmental value.
鈥淟ocal planning authorities may continue to consider the case for setting a locally appropriate target for the use of brownfield land.鈥�
Roger Hepher, head of planning at consultant Savills, said the balance was sensible.
He said: 鈥淎lthough a brownfield-first approach superficially seems attractive, it doesn鈥檛 make a lot of sense in sustainability terms to develop an old factory site isolated in the middle of the countryside (and which may have acquired significant biodiversity value) rather than an area of indifferent scrub land close to urban facilities and public transport.鈥�
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