How significant is the grey belt to UK housebuilding?



While the green belt makes up 12% of England’s land, Knight Frank has identified over 11,000 previously developed sites that comprise less than 1% of the green belt — now dubbed the “grey belt” — which may boost UK housebuilding.


All those sites combined could only produce 100,000-200,000 new family homes, depending on the density of the developments, according to analysis by Cameron McDonald, head of geospatial at Knight Frank. 

So the ‘grey belt’ will only ever be part of the solution, and it should form part of a range of housing land supply including sites in towns and cities, as well as at other strategic or sustainable locations.

Significantly, and what is unique to the grey belt is that it is suited to family homes, for which there is great need.

Therefore, a mature and more objective approach to green belt development is essential to boost housing delivery.

New ideas around the ‘grey belt’ come at a time when national housing supply is under pressure, says Knight Frank. 

This comes as the government continues to fall far short of the annual target of 300,000 homes in England.



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