Oct 10 2005
English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency, has selected 22 developers as part of a pilot programme to bring brownfield land back into productive use.
The pilots involve 14 local authorities across England, is a joint initiative led by English Partnerships and the ODPM (Office of Deputy Prime Minister) as part of the National Brownfield Strategy which aims to bring England’s 64,000 ha (158,000 acres) of brownfield land back into productive use.
Professor Paul Syms, National Brownfield Strategy Director for English Partnerships, says, “We have had an excellent response from developers who have shown a strong commitment to being part of this programme. These developers will now play a major role in helping local authorities and local people transform some of the country’s worst eyesores. We expect the pilot programme to provide a focus for the long-term effective re-use of the country’s brownfield ‘legacy’.”
The local authorities involved are Barrow-in-Furness, Barking & Dagenham, Bradford, Bristol, Dudley, Easington, Ipswich, Kerrier (Cornwall), Manchester, Mansfield, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tower Hamlets. The pilot areas have been selected as they represent a mix of urban and rural examples with varied histories and reasons for dereliction. They also include authorities with different urban initiatives already in place such as URCs, enterprise zones, housing market renewal pathfinders or are within a growth area. The developers will work alongside English Partnerships, the 14 local authorities, communities and businesses, as part of local brownfield partnerships. These partnerships will work to identify and assess sites and then draw up plans to reclaim one or more of the sites in each pilot area. Final uses will range from housing through to the creation of natural open spaces.
Paul Syms explains further, “We will identify the barriers and solutions to reclaiming derelict land and develop ways that it can be successfully regenerated while taking account of local community wishes.”
In exchange for their input and expertise, panel members will be able to put forward development ideas for brownfield sites within each pilot area, bringing them forward for redevelopment in line with agreed plans. A workshop, organised in conjunction with The Prince’s Foundation will be held on October 4 with representatives from the developers, the local authorities in the pilot areas and Regional Development Agencies to explore the next stage in the future of the brownfield pilot areas.