Following the Prime Minister’s pledge to increase the number of new homes by three million by 2020, the Department for Transport and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) have been working together to identify surplus land.

Around 470 sites have now been identified following a review with BRB (Residuary) Ltd (who looks after the residual responsibilities and liabilities of the former British Railway Board) and the Highways Agency (HA) of their surplus landholdings. These sites could make a considerable contribution to the Government’s increased target of 240,000 homes a year by 2016.

Ruth Kelly, transport secretary, said: “My department has identified over 2,500 acres of land that could potentially be used for new and affordable homes and is working with English Partnerships to ensure that this land is assessed as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“This could mark a significant contribution of land for new homes, and I am pleased that we are making such swift progress in bringing forward proposals to meet the Prime Minister’s priority of more new and affordable housing. In addition, the department is reviewing its land holdings and if further surplus land is identified housing use will be given high priority.”