Greenfield and brownfield development

Overview

Greenfield site, brownfield site and arguments against building on greenfield land.

What you need to know

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Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is a greenfield site?

   Model answer

   A site that has not previously been built on, typically farmland, woodland or other open countryside, most often located on the rural-urban fringe or beyond it. Building on it converts undeveloped rural land into developed land for the first time.

2. 2

   What is a brownfield site?

   Model answer

   A site that has been built on before and is now derelict, disused or underused, and is available for redevelopment. Typical examples are closed factories, redundant docks, former gasworks, disused railway land, empty hospitals and cleared housing sites, and they are usually found within the existing urban area, especially in the inner city.

3. 3

   Why do developers prefer greenfield sites?

   Model answer

   Land is cheaper per hectare; the site is clean, so no demolition, clearance or decontamination is needed and construction costs and timescales are lower; sites are large, flat and regularly shaped, allowing an efficient standardised layout and economies of scale; there are no constraints from existing buildings or awkward boundaries; road access on the fringe is often good; and the semi-rural setting is attractive to buyers, so houses sell for more and sell faster.

4. 4

   What are the arguments against building on greenfield land?

   Model answer

   It permanently loses productive farmland and wildlife habitat, and the loss is effectively irreversible. It causes urban sprawl and the merging of settlements, eroding the character of the countryside and the identity of villages. It increases surface run-off and flood risk. It generates long car-dependent commuting journeys and higher emissions because sites are away from existing public transport and services. New infrastructure such as roads, drains, schools and utilities must be built at public expense. And it removes the incentive to reuse derelict urban land, so inner-city dereliction persists.

5. 5

   What are the advantages of building on brownfield sites?

   Model answer

   Derelict land is reused and eyesores are removed, improving the urban environment. Existing infrastructure, roads, drains and public transport are already in place, so servicing costs are lower and journeys are shorter. Sites are close to existing jobs and services, which cuts car dependence and emissions. Development brings people and investment back into the inner city, supporting regeneration and re-urbanisation. And crucially, greenfield land and farmland are saved, reducing sprawl.

6. 6

   What are the disadvantages of building on brownfield sites?

   Model answer

   Land is more expensive to acquire in urban areas. Existing structures must be demolished and cleared, and contaminated land from former industrial use may need costly remediation, which raises the cost and slows the programme. Sites are often small, irregular and awkward, limiting layout and reducing the number of units. Ground conditions may be unknown and require investigation. Fragmented ownership can make assembling a site slow. Buyers may perceive the surrounding area as less attractive, and the sites often lack gardens and open space.

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