Unlocking Brownfield Potential: 1.5 Million Homes Could Be Built Across England
A new report from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) reveals that brownfield land across England could accommodate nearly 1.5 million new homes, with over half of these sites already holding planning permission. This marks a significant opportunity for developers to meet housing demand without encroaching on green belt land.
The report highlights that London alone could deliver over 534,000 homes on brownfield sites, with the West Midlands seeing a 59% increase in available land over the past year. Despite this, nearly half of new developments in 2021–22 were built on greenfield sites, sparking calls for a stronger “brownfield-first” policy.
As CPRE urges the government to unlock this potential, Housebuilder Pro users are well-positioned to lead the charge in transforming underused urban spaces into thriving communities.
New Importer Feature Streamlines Data Uploads in Housebuilder Pro
Housebuilder Pro has introduced a powerful new Importer tool, designed to make bulk data uploads faster and more efficient for users managing developments, house types, plots, snags, and contacts.
Key features:
CSV & Excel Support: Upload data using .CSV, .XLS, or .XLSX formats.
Module-Based Imports: Select from specific modules like Developments, House Types, Plots, Snags, and Contacts.
Drag-and-Drop Upload: A user-friendly interface allows quick file uploads with drag-and-drop functionality.
Import History: Track previous uploads for transparency and troubleshooting.
This update is part of Housebuilder Pro’s ongoing commitment to improving workflow efficiency and data accuracy for users across the development lifecycle.
UK House Price Index – July 2025
The UK House Price Index (HPI) for July 2025 shows that average house prices across the UK rose by 0.5% compared to June 2025, and by 1.1% over the year to July. This marks a continued slowdown in annual growth, with house price inflation now well below the general rate of inflation.
Key Figures:
- UK average house price: £287,000
- England: £304,000 (annual increase of 1.2%)
- Wales: £216,000 (annual increase of 0.9%)
- Scotland: £193,000 (annual increase of 0.6%)
- Northern Ireland: £174,000 (annual increase of 2.7%)
The South West and East of England saw the weakest annual growth, while Northern Ireland recorded the strongest.
According to industry analysis, house price growth is now significantly below inflation, meaning real-terms values are falling. Analysts suggest this reflects weak market demand, higher borrowing costs, and record-low planning approvals, all of which are contributing to a subdued housing market.
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