Mike Salter, Group Development Director at SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading public sector procurement authorities, outlines what local authorities should be considering when developing brownfield strategies to capture funding and deliver on the Government’s levelling up ambitions.
Successive budgets and policy updates have made one thing clear: brownfield land will be the cornerstone of Britain’s levelling up efforts. Funds for Brownfield Land, Levelling Up, High Streets and Towns have arrived with encouraging regularity, following years in which local authorities have aimed to unlock disused or poorly configured urban land — while battling with increasingly limited resources.
The case for brownfield development is nothing new. However, it is the complex nature of the process that has made it a less favourable option in the past. Indeed, disused industrial patches — more common in under-loved areas of our towns and cities — often have piecemeal ownership structures and come with significant infrastructure challenges that prohibit swift and effective development.
But if these issues can be overcome, brownfield land has the potential to provide a major platform for community regeneration; sustainably supporting the delivery of new homes, commercial development and public realm — all key pillars of thriving communities. Crucially, it offers a viable alternative to greenbelt development as local authorities increasingly focus on their net zero commitments.
Local authorities targeting brownfield-led regeneration must bring it about through an effective use of the funding, resources and expertise available — be that in-house
or through partners. Crucially, a strategy is needed that brings all parties, from residents to developers, under the same banner to create better places to live, work and play.
A framework for change
Having identified possible sites, local authorities will need to create a strategic development framework — although a few factors need to be considered as part of this. The first will be setting a clear objective based on local need. For one, this might mean boosting housing provision. For another, driving economic growth through commercial development. Identifying this at the very start means all future efforts are geared towards delivering that goal. The agreed objective should also factor in the project’s sustainability aims; setting ambitious targets for cutting waste and emissions in both delivery and use.
Once an objective is set, the next stage is evaluating what’s feasible. While using the land available to meet the most pressing local need is ideal, sometimes it’s not always practical. For instance, a large-scale housing development has the potential to exacerbate local issues if the infrastructure and services — think roads, shops, schools — are not in place to support it. This is the place-making element of regeneration — and a clear framework will ensure that different aspects and areas of the community complement each other and contribute positively towards its growth.
Having this cohesive plan in place, which sets out a clear delivery strategy, will also play a critical role in accessing all-important funding. As noted before, there are a range of funding pots for local authorities to target. However, central government has a responsibility to direct it towards the plans that show the greatest potential for success. Put simply, if the business case is unable to stand up to scrutiny from central government, local authorities risk the time and resource spent on feasibility and planning going to waste.
Equally, local authorities at this point should be considering whether private investment will be needed to support the project and what role private developers, contractors and their funders should play. Long-term regeneration projects have the potential to support commercial growth if developers are willing to provide patient capital in getting them off the ground.
Lasting impact
A strategic masterplan has the potential to be a catalyst for positive change in a community. However, once funding is secured to remediate land and prepare it for development, the standard of regeneration will only ever be as good as the partners delivering it.
Repurposing disused land requires experienced developers and contractors with intimate knowledge of what it takes to transform brownfield land into a thriving space for the community. Given the constraints local authorities face — one condition of the funding available is often that it’s used within a certain period — they don’t often have the time to engage in protracted tender processes.
Direct award frameworks can offer a swift but robust route for local authorities looking to procure quality build partners. But not only do they have extensive experience in delivering these projects, the frameworks mandate a focus on social value, sustainability and ultimately placing communities at the heart of every project. They also have access to the extensive local and specialised supply chains that local authorities should be looking to engage in any procurement where possible.
Long-term legacy
In addition to working with quality delivery partners, continued investment is key to ensuring that regeneration has far-reaching impact for years to come. Here, local authorities have two core options: sell the revitalised area to private landlords and developers and reinvest the funds in other initiatives or regeneration projects, or keep the assets under management, providing a stable revenue stream for the authority.
The perfect option will differ on a case-by-case basis, which is why it’s crucial to engage partners early when establishing a framework. They can help evaluate the needs of the community and how its developments can yield the greatest value. The solution can then be baked-into the masterplan and offer a clear target for all to aim towards.
Ensuring that stakeholders across the board are united in their ambitions creates stronger and positive long-term results for local communities. This is what brownfield funding from the Government is designed to support. Used properly, it can be at the heart of best-in-class regeneration.
