Previously-developed land can off er an easier path to getting consent for your dream home – but there are challenges to be aware of before you buy this kind of plot, says Mike Dade

Mike Dade

The Mays were able to press ahead with their project when national planning policy changed to encourage the conversion of disused agricultural buildings for housing. Since then, permitted development rights have been implemented to enable this kind of change of use – subject to a prior approval procedure

JO SHELDRAKE

The term ‘brownfield land’ is much used in the media, where it’s often heralded as the logical focus for new large-scale housing development. The phrase may conjure up images of acres of post-industrial degradation, but brownfield plots can provide excellent opportunities for self-builders.

So what exactly does brownfield mean, when might this kind of site be suitable for one-off home building projects and – should you find one – what are the challenges you might face in securing planning consent?

What is brownfield land?

The word ‘brownfield’ doesn’t actually appear in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which is the principal statement of government planning policy. Instead, the NPPF refers to previously-developed land. This is more closely defined as:

“… land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure, including the curtilage of the developed land (although it should not be assumed that the whole of the curtilage should be developed) and any associated fixed surface infrastructure.”