Brownfield register needs overhaul

The way the UK government records brownfield land available for redevelopment could change radically following a report commissioned by regeneration agency English Partnerships.

Councils at present provide information only on a voluntary basis to the NLUD database, which is meant to record all brownfield sites across England, but the report says this should change. It also recommends that the exact dimensions of sites should be given rather than just single co-ordinates as now.

In addition, the report, produced by Kingston University, suggests that the database should be made available online.

Olga McFarland, senior researcher at English Partnerships, said: “English Partnerships is committed to identifying and helping to unlock land for redevelopment and other uses - a key strand of the national brownfield strategy.

“We welcome future improvement to and development of NLUD's capabilities.”