Unlocking the Potential of Brownfield Sites: The Role of Brownfield Passports
Urbanisation and industrialization have led to the proliferation of brownfield sites—areas of land that were once used for industrial purposes but are now abandoned or underutilised, often with the presence of contamination. The regeneration of these sites is crucial for sustainable urban development, but it is also fraught with challenges, particularly related to the environmental, legal, and financial complexities of remediation.
Enter the concept of “brownfield passports,” a tool designed to facilitate the redevelopment of these sites by streamlining processes and providing essential information to stakeholders.
New Government in a Hurry
The Government has published a comprehensive consultation proposing significant changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) making provision for changes to the Green Belt and increasing brownfield development.
Brownfield first has always been a stated priority and measures such as Brownfield Registers, held by Local Authorities were intended to ease the planning process. Unfortunately, this was not as effective as hoped and largely drew on previous Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) lists.
The Labour Government intends to underline the importance of brownfield as the first port of call for development and is tabling Brownfield Passports as a method of reinforcing the expectation that any development on previously developed land will be viewed positively and the default on this site is ‘yes’.
The government has published a working paper asking for views on its plan to introduce a system of “brownfield passports” to speed up development on urban sites. The consultation time appears very limited (just 7 days) suggesting that they do not want to hang around with implementation.
What Are Brownfield Passports?
A brownfield passport is essentially a comprehensive digital or physical document that compiles all the necessary data about a brownfield site. This includes information on past land uses, existing contamination levels, environmental assessments, and legal status, as well as potential redevelopment plans. The idea is to create a one-stop resource that provides prospective developers, urban planners, and local authorities with all the information they need to make informed decisions about the redevelopment of a site.
The Importance of Brownfield Redevelopment
Before considering brownfield passports, it’s essential to understand why brownfield redevelopment is so critical. Brownfield sites often occupy prime real estate in urban areas. However, due to their previous industrial use, they are frequently contaminated with hazardous substances, making redevelopment complex and costly. Yet, leaving these sites derelict is not an option either, as they can become eyesores, contribute to urban blight, and pose environmental and health risks.
Moreover, with the increasing scarcity of undeveloped greenfield land, especially in densely populated areas, there is a growing need to focus on brownfield redevelopment as a sustainable solution. It not only revitalises neglected urban areas but also helps in curbing urban sprawl by promoting the efficient use of land. Not only that but regeneration brings in further income generation to local businesses through more vibrant local communities.
The Role of Brownfield Passports in Redevelopment
Brownfield passports serve as an essential tool in the redevelopment process by addressing some of the key challenges associated with brownfield sites:
1. Information Accessibility and Transparency
One of the primary challenges in brownfield redevelopment is the lack of accessible, reliable information. Potential developers often shy away from these sites because they are uncertain about the extent of contamination or the legal liabilities they might incur. A brownfield passport provides a clear, comprehensive overview of the site, thus reducing uncertainty and enabling more accurate risk assessments.
As an example, the European Union’s “Brownfield Redevelopment Network” (Brownfield Network) advocates for the use of brownfield passports to enhance transparency. They argue that these passports can significantly reduce the time and cost involved in the initial stages of redevelopment by providing easy access to essential data .
2. Streamlining the Redevelopment Process
The redevelopment of brownfield sites often involves navigating a complex web of environmental regulations, legal requirements, and stakeholder interests. Brownfield passports can streamline this process by collating all necessary documentation in one place. This can include environmental reports, remediation strategies, and records of previous site assessments. By providing a clear roadmap of what needs to be done, brownfield passports help in speeding up the redevelopment process and reducing bureaucratic delays.
3. Facilitating Stakeholder Collaboration
Brownfield redevelopment typically involves multiple stakeholders, including developers, local governments, environmental agencies, and the community. Effective collaboration among these groups is crucial for successful redevelopment. Brownfield passports can facilitate this by serving as a common reference point, ensuring that all parties have access to the same information. This can help in building trust, fostering collaboration, and avoiding conflicts that might otherwise arise due to misinformation or misunderstandings.
4. Promoting Sustainable Development
Sustainability is a key concern in modern urban planning. Brownfield redevelopment offers a unique opportunity to promote sustainable development by reclaiming land that would otherwise go to waste. Brownfield passports contribute to this by ensuring that redevelopment plans are informed by comprehensive environmental data, allowing for the implementation of remediation strategies that minimise environmental impact.
Brownfield Passports in Action
The use of brownfield passports has been gaining traction in various parts of the world, particularly in Europe. In Germany, the city of Leipzig has implemented a successful brownfield passport system that has helped transform several former industrial sites into vibrant urban spaces. The city’s approach integrates brownfield passports into its wider urban development strategy, ensuring that all stakeholders are on the same page and that redevelopment is aligned with broader sustainability goals.
The Future of Brownfield Passports
As urban areas continue to grow and the demand for land intensifies, the importance of brownfield redevelopment will only increase. Brownfield passports represent a practical and effective tool for unlocking the potential of these sites. By providing a clear, comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities associated with each site, brownfield passports can help overcome the barriers that have traditionally hindered brownfield redevelopment.
Moreover, as digital technologies advance, the concept of brownfield passports could evolve to include more sophisticated features, such as real-time data updates, interactive mapping, and integration with other urban planning tools. This would further enhance their utility and make them an indispensable part of the urban redevelopment toolkit.
In conclusion, brownfield passports offer a promising solution to some of the most pressing challenges in urban redevelopment. By making it easier to access information, streamline processes, and facilitate collaboration, they can play a crucial role in transforming neglected brownfield sites into thriving, sustainable urban spaces.
We can support you with our Review reports providing comprehensive insight into typically issues that would require consideration during development from artificial contamination, radon, flood and risk from former mining. It also includes an assessment of physical risks including flood, ground stability and coastal erosion and how they are anticipated to change as climate change accelerates.
If you are assessing land for development we can provide you with an effective assessment tool to identify potential remediation costs called Groundscreen. It is a unique Brownfield Remediation Cost Calculator that enables rapid and easy Screening for Site Contamination Appraisal.Developed together with the British Geological Survey (BGS), it is designed to take the effort out of early feasibility studies by providing indicative contaminated land and ground stability remediation costs.
For further information on either our Review Report or Groundscreen, call us on 01273 257 755 or email info@groundsure.com
References
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-reform-working-paper-brownfield-passport
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Date:
Sep 25, 2024
Author:
David Kempster