The Brownfield Land Register shows a list of previously developed sites that are available and potentially suitable for housing development across the district.
The register is kept in two parts:
• Part one of the register is now available to view and shows sites categorised as previously developed land which are suitable, available and achievable for residential development. The site plan for each site can be viewed by copying and pasting the url contained in the spreadsheet into a new web page.
• Part two of the register is optional and allows us to select sites from part one and grant permission in principle (PiP) for housing-led development. PiP will establish the fundamental principles of development in terms of the use, location and amount of development. However, planning permission is not granted until Technical Details Consent is applied for and approved by us.
Our register is maintained and reviewed at least once a year to make sure it is kept up to date.
All data is published under the Open Government Licence.
What is brownfield land?
‘Brownfield Land' (previously developed land) is defined in Annex 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2019) as:
"Land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure, including the curtilage of the developed land (although it should not be assumed that the whole of the curtilage should be developed) and any associated fixed surface infrastructure. This excludes land that is or has been occupied by agricultural or forestry buildings; land that has been developed for minerals extraction or waste disposal by landfill purposes where provision for restoration has been made through development control procedures; land in built-up areas such as private residential gardens, parks, recreation grounds and allotments; and land that was previously-developed, but where the remains of the permanent structure have blended into the landscape in the process of time."
Submit a site to the register
If you have previously developed land and buildings which have the potential to be used for housing in the future and meets the NPPF definition of ‘brownfield land’ (above) we would like to hear from you so that we can add it to part one of the register. This information will then be added to information we already have in our Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA).
This will allow us to gain a full and comprehensive understanding of the extent of available and suitable previously developed land in the district. It will also help with any future review of the Local Plan or inform a Neighbourhood Plan.
In accordance with the regulations, sites should ideally be 0.25 hectares or larger, or capable of providing at least 5 dwellings. Site submissions must also include a map, plan or aerial photograph clearly showing the site’s boundaries. A separate form and map are required for each site being submitted. Where it is not possible to complete a form in full or you are unsure as to whether the above criteria would be met, any details will be welcomed.
Submit a site
What happens next?
Sites put forward which meet the definition of brownfield (above) will be assessed in terms of whether they are:
• suitable (is appropriate for residential development)
• achievable (development is likely to take place within 15 years of the entry date on the register)
We may then need to contact you for additional information.
Sites listed within the Brownfield Land Register are expected to be subject to the approval of further details prior to development taking place.
If there are any changes to the site such as the boundary following its submission please let us know and provide an up-to-date map with a brief explanation of any changes. We also need to know if the site is no longer available so it can be removed from the register. This can be done by contacting our Planning Team localplan@northdevon.gov.uk
If a site is identified it doesn’t automatically mean that it will be added to the register or granted planning permission in the future.
