The development model in practice
The Brownfield Housing Fund in the north-east
29 May 2025
The use of brownfield land for housing development has become a key political priority in the UK, driven by the need to address the housing crisis and promote sustainable development. Previously developed but now vacant or derelict Brownfield sites offer an opportunity to reduce urban sprawl, make use of underused land, and help revitalise struggling communities. This report examines the complexities of using brownfield land to meet housing needs, focusing on the north-east of England.
While brownfield developments offer a solution to some challenges, this report reveals significant issues with the financing and delivery of housing on such sites. These include high remediation costs coupled with low land values, which result in developments that fail to meet affordable housing targets due to private sector developers citing a lack of return on investment. Furthermore, the report highlights the broader implications of the current development model, which prioritises private profit over public good and impedes the creation of sustainable, thriving communities. The analysis draws on interviews with key stakeholders involved in the Brownfield Housing Fund (BHF) process, including combined authority officers, housing professionals, and community representatives. The findings show that while the BHF has facilitated some new housing development, its approach remains commercially driven and fails to fully address the social, economic, and environmental needs of local communities.
This report is part of the multi-year Reclaiming Our Regional Economies (RORE) programme which explores how the UK can begin to create more equitable, healthier, and sustainable places by adopting ambitious policies proven here and abroad. Within this programme, NEF is building a body of work that explores the foundations of the housing crisis through an understanding of the need to fundamentally change the development model, which currently sees private interests extract value from communities.
Image: iStock
Topics Housing & land
