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The UK is experiencing a growing housing demand coupled with a shortage of supply. The number of households has risen by 30% in the UK since 1971. In part, this is because more people live alone. Rising life expectancies and high levels of immigration all combine to produce a housing shortage.

The government wants builders, investors and local councils to increase the supply of new-builds and to refurbish empty homes. They aim to increase housing supply by:

• removing unnecessarily complex regulations
• providing finance for projects that can't proceed without it
• helping buyers who cannot afford the deposit to buy a home

One of the major issues is to decide where to build new houses:

• Greenfield site - an area of land that has not been developed previously
• Brownfield site - an old industrial or inner-city site that is cleared for a new building development
• Green belt - land consisting of farmland, woodland and open recreational areas surrounding urban areas on which building is restricted

Building on greenfield sites is a controversial issue. Population growth in the UK, the trend towards smaller family units and the demand from people wanting to live at the edge of the city has put pressure on the countryside surrounding major cities.

Advantages of building on greenfield sites

• There is no need to clean up the site from previous land uses therefore it can work out cheaper.
• Existing road networks are not in place, so planning is not restricted.
• They are often on the edges of cities where land is cheaper.
• Planners and architects have a blank canvas to work with.
• More space is available for gardens.
• The edge of city/countryside environment can appeal to buyers and businesses.
• Sites on the edge of the city are often close to major motorways providing good access.

Advantages of building on brownfield sites

• It is more sustainable as existing developed land is being used.
• City expansion is curbed as the site is already within the city - this stops the loss of countryside and reduces journey times as the city is more compact.
• Road networks already exist, as do electricity and gas networks, although these may need updating.
• It is easier to gain planning permission as councils are keen to reuse the brownfield sites.
• The sites are closer to the central business district for shopping and job opportunities.