Forum Topic

Define brownfield land please?

Can the good people of Acton define brownfield land for me, please? Thanks.

Angela White ● 4119d9 Comments

As I understand current policy in the UK, brownfield land is any land that has previously been developed - industrial, commercial, residential. In the case of a residential site, there are presumably no land contamination issues and so no need for an EIA. Though I must admit I though an EIA was intended to look at the impact of a new proposal on the surrounding area rather than a study of legacy issues of the land itself.

Peter Millman ● 4117d

Not sure if this is relevent to your estate as it doesn't sound like it's been abandoned to nature but if elements of it are you could maybe argue for EIA on wildlife grounds?https://www.buglife.org.uk/campaigns-and-our-work/habitat-projects/brownfieldshttps://www.buglife.org.uk/news-%26-events/news/wildlife-rich-areas-must-not-suffer-at-the-expense-of-land-development

Helen Wallis ● 4117d

Thanks all.  Useful site, Ellie.  Ealing Council and Catalyst are saying Friary Park is brownfield, even though the estate has been in situ for 30 years.  And, contradicting their claim its brownfield, they've waived the EIA on it (environmental impact assessment) !  They want it all ways.

Angela White ● 4118d

It's not necessarily contaminated is it? Just previously used - at least in common Usage

Sara Nathan ● 4118d

http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/brownfield-development

Ellie Rose ● 4118d

As the land has previously been built upon (housing) I would imagine an EIA was done before it was built upon so can hardly be called brownfield now surely ?

Ellie Rose ● 4118d

Thank you both.  So, if a developer was going to build on what they considered to be brownfield, they would, having looked at that website Ellie referred me to, have to do an EIA on the possible contamination there.  EIA = environmental impact assessment.

Angela White ● 4118d

Brownfield is a term used in urban planning to describe land previously used for commercial uses or industrial purposes. Such land has been contaminated with hazardous waste or pollution or is feared to be so. Once cleaned up, such an area can become host to a business development such as a retail park.Brownfield land - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownfield_landWikipedia

Chris Hurley ● 4118d

http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/brownfieldsites.html

Ellie Rose ● 4118d