Government funding has been launched to help deliver new homes on underutilised post-industrial brownfield land. The resultant increase in building activity will require effective construction site protection, says site security specialist SafeSite Security Solutions.
The new Government fund is called the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLFR) and comprises a £65 million capital grant programme. This funding should support the release of local authority brownfield land for housing development, with £25 million earmarked explicitly for self and custom-build delivery.
The Brownfield Land Release Fund was first launched in 2018, providing £45 million capital funding to over 70 council-led projects to support the reuse of brownfield land for housing development. The aim was to bring forward the release of local authority-owned land for over 7,000 new homes.
In February 2022, a further £8 million was awarded to 13 local authority projects in England, with an additional £3.67 million allocated for custom and self-build housing projects. January 2023 saw a further £60m of capital grant funding given to English councils, with the aim of delivering 5,800 new homes by 2027.
The construction of new homes is central to the UK government’s plans for ‘levelling up’ the country and creating opportunities for growth and development. This initiative addresses viability issues over brownfield land that may hitherto render it unsuitable for housing development. Although the term ‘brownfield’ conveys an image of cleared land, there could be many derelict buildings on the site, subterranean infrastructure, or contamination issues.
Councils can use the new money to finance site levelling, groundworks, demolition, remediation, provision of small-scale infrastructure, highways works or other access challenges, as well as addressing environmental constraints.
It may also be used to create serviced self and custom-build plots on specific serviced plots where this can be delivered in line with the fund criteria. Custom build is where the homebuyer works with a developer to design and construct a home that meets their specific needs and preferences. Self-build is where the individual takes on the responsibility of designing and building their own home, often using specialist builders or contractors.
A serviced plot is a piece of land that has been made ready for development, with infrastructure such as access roads, utilities, and drainage already in place. So those who approach the local authority with ideas for their own build won’t have to do any remedial work, that will already have been guaranteed by the council through the BLRF.
Over a third of the initial BLRF’s £75 million was allocated to self and custom-build.
This full brownfield fund will lead to the building of 17,600 new homes and create approximately 56,000 skilled jobs for the construction sector over the next four years.
In using derelict land and overcoming the often daunting bureaucracy associated with new housing, the Government and local authorities believe this funding will deliver a wealth of new affordable homes in England and drive the government’s ambition to build 300,000 new houses a year.
Of course construction sites can also be inherently dangerous places, and the safety of workers, visitors and members of the public is of the utmost importance. This is why site security is vital– not just for protecting assets and materials, but for the safety of people too.
SafeSite Security Solutions provides a comprehensive range of site security solutions that can be tailored to the demands of brownfield site renovation and subsequent development. The company’s services include manned guarding, CCTV monitoring, alarm response, and mobile patrols. They also provide secure storage solutions, including shipping containers and storage units, to protect clients’ equipment and materials when not in use.
The company’s site clearance and cleaning services will prove indispensable since many of these brownfield sites will require cleaning before they can be used. SafeSite Security Solutions can provide a range of services, including waste removal, graffiti removal, and sharps clearance, to ensure that areas are safe and free of hazards that could harm construction workers.
The company’s access control solutions help clients to control who has access to the brownfield sites both during remedial work and over the course of subsequent construction. These entry solutions can be designed to meet each client’s specific needs, with options ranging from simple keyless entry systems to biometric access controls.
SafeSite Security Solutions also offers a range of perimeter security solutions, including fencing, barriers, and bollards, to help clients secure their sites and prevent unauthorised access to the land whilst it’s being renovated for reuse.
Michael Knibbs, Managing Director at SafeSite Security Solutions, said:
“We welcome this vital government expenditure designed to rejuvenate communities by constructing much-needed housing on brownfield land. This funding will help address the current housing crisis and benefit local economies by generating new jobs in housing and construction.
“As a leading site security company, we understand the importance of protecting these sites during the construction process to ensure the safety of workers and the surrounding community.
“We are proud to offer a range of security solutions to back this initiative and ensure that communities across the country realise the benefits of this funding.”
Contact SafeSite Security Solutions to discover more about the services provided by a professional site security company with bespoke solutions for the public and private sector.