Use of brownfield housing sites increases to 78 per cent; average densities rise to 44 dwellings per hectare
The latest national statistics on land use change were released under the auspices of the UK Statistics Authority on 28 May 2009, and are available online. The figures indicate that more brownfield land is being used for new housing. The data provides initial estimates for 2008 of changes on previously-developed land and the average density of new dwellings.
According to the figures - complied for Communities and Local Government - the amount of new homes built on brownfield sites rose from 77 per cent in 2007 to 78 per cent in 2008. For some topics, 2008 data are not yet robust and so the latest robust data available is presented.
These new dwellings were built at an average density of 46 per hectare, compared to 44 per hectare in 2007.
Regionally, London has the greatest proportion of dwellings built on previously developed land (96 per cent in 2007), whereas the East Midlands has the smallest proportion (63 per cent in 2007).
During 2007 some two per cent of dwellings were built within the Green Belt (unchanged since 2004) while five per cent of land changing to residential use (from any use) was within the Green Belt (unchanged since 2001).
In 2008, on a provisional estimate:
- 78 per cent of dwellings (including conversions) were built on previously-developed land, compared to 77 per cent in 2007.
- New dwellings were built at an average density of 46 dwellings per hectare, compared to 44 dwellings per hectare in 2007.
In 2007:
- 2 per cent of dwellings were built within the Green Belt (unchanged since 2004) and 5 per cent of land changing to residential use (from any use) was within the Green Belt (unchanged since 2001).
- 9 per cent of dwellings were built within areas of high flood risk and 6 per cent of land changing to residential use was within areas of high flood risk.
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