Brownfield development - no pain no gain | West Northamptonshire Development Corporation

I couldn’t help but notice the storm that has recently been sparked by the Draft National Planning Policy Framework. Amongst other things, the emotive issue of Greenfield vs Brownfield has reared its familiar head again.

As always, much of the debate is down to interpretation - in one corner, the development industry is adamant that the NPPF will adequately protect the green belt, while a cry of ‘hands off our land’ can be heard from a range of fearful countryside groups.

Staggeringly, latest figures show that there are over 63,000 acres of brownfield sites in England. Some of these sites represent the epitome of market failure, shunned by the development industry in favour of less complicated and more profitable options. And is it really that surprising? At a time when lenders and investors are at their most risk averse for decades, surely its best to play it safe?

The truth is, whatever the planning policy environment, there’s usually very obvious and understandable reasons for Brownfield land being unattractive to the market. In the centre of Northampton, there is a swathe of major Brownfield sites along the River Nene, ranging from former landfill facilities to derelict factories. Looking at these sites, it’s not hard to see why they’ve been derelict for so long. After all, what’s the incentive to develop and remediate contaminated land, when you can get better returns for an out-of-town development anyway?

Sometimes, the public sector just has to make the ‘hard yards’ so Brownfield sites are a realistic proposition. This can be a complex and long term process, but the effect on the local economy makes it worthwhile. In Northampton we’re taking it on as part of a waterside regeneration plan.

Our role ranges from bringing landowners together, to acquiring land, forward funding infrastructure and leading development projects. It’s been a particularly busy period, with plans approved for the redevelopment of Northampton railway station as well as the Nunn Mills development road in recent weeks. That’s not to mention the announcement of the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone, which encompasses 120 hectares of predominantly Brownfield land in the town centre.

Working hand-in-hand with the local authorities, we’re not just making Brownfield development viable, we’re making it preferable. If we do our job right, Northampton Waterside will be a leading business destination in a prestigious riverfront location in one of England’s fastest growing cities. In Northampton at least, there are still strong prospects for Brownfield development.