Here's why we're probably going to have to build some houses on the greenbelt

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/heres-why-were-probably-going-to-have-to-build-some-houses-on-the-greenbelt-10313111.html

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There is not enough ‘brownfield’ land in Britain to accommodate the number of houses needed to be built for even one year, according to figures released by ministers.

The Communities department estimates that there is enough land for about 200,000 homes to be built on previously developed sites in areas where housing is required.

But most estimates have said Britain needs to begin building at least 300,000 homes every year to stop the country’s housing shortage deepening even further.

The shortfall means development on so-called ‘greenfield’ sites – previously undeveloped land - is almost certainly required in order to address the housing crisis.

In London, where most housing demand is concentrating, greenfield sites tend to be part of the protected greenbelt.

The brownfield shortfall could explain why attempts to build on protected greenbelt land have sharply increased over the last five years.

The Financial Times reported earlier this week that planning applications on specially protected 'greenbelt' sites grew 430 per cent under the Coalition government with a 114 per cent jump in the last year alone.

The estimate of 300,000 homes required to be built every year has been echoed by a number of sources. The Royal Institute of British Architects’ report into housing, the Future Home Commission, produced the figure in 2012.

The same number of homes were also specified by former Liberal Democrat business secretary Vince Cable last year.

“We estimate that capacity exists for around 200,000 homes on brownfield sites that are suitable and viable for housing, in areas where sufficient demand exists, and irrespective of tenure,” said communities minister Baroness Williams.

She noted that the Government was planning to set up a register of brownfield land suitable for housing in order to maximise accessibility to it.

Current housebuilding figures are failing to struggling beat half the 300,000 required figure, meaning further housing shortages and price rises are likely to be on the way.

Home ownership figures for most age groups except pensioners have been in free-fall over the last decade.

With more people having to rely on private rented accommodation to house themselves, landlords increased the rents they charge tenants by 8.2% last year, according to the English Housing Survey.