Pinpointing London’s eyesore brownfield sites

The survey, which is funded by English Partnerships (EP), will provide the basis of a London-wide brownfield action plan. The study will be undertaken by consultant Arup, with the co-operation of the London Development Agency and all 33 of the capital’s boroughs. The list will include all potential development sites larger than 0.1ha.

Paul Syms, chief brownfield land adviser at EP, said the study would be important in bringing forward eyesore sites and informing policy guidance to enable derelict sites to be redeveloped.

Last week, EP published its first national brownfield strategy, designed to encourage the reuse of 52,000ha of developed land. This strategy calls for all local authorities to identify problem sites and start to prepare them for redevelopment.

However, although the government's endorsed the strategy in principle last week, it has not yet announced the funding needed to pay for its national roll-out.

These moves follow the publication of a housing capacity study by the Greater London Authority in 2006 which identified many brownfield sites across the capital upon which housing could be developed. It enabled the mayor to raise the annual London target to 30,650 new homes.