Brownfield Regeneration - Delivering Homes, Growth and Nature

Berkeley Group is a leading urban regeneration company. We believe that reviving underused urban land is the most sustainable form of development. It helps to deliver good green homes where they are needed most and drives the growth and productivity our country needs.

Berkeley is the only major UK homebuilder focussed on long term brownfield development. We’re bringing forward 32 of the country’s most challenging sites, including derelict gasworks and industrial estates that few developers have the capacity or expertise to take on.

The Government defines brownfield land as “developed land that is, or was previously, occupied by a permanent structure.”  Examples of brownfield sites Berkeley is working on include former industrial estates, gasworks, car parks, supermarkets and warehouses. 

These sites tend to be sustainably located within existing towns and cities, where they are close to existing infrastructure and can make a big contribution to local economies and communities. This is a key reason why Government at all levels prioritises building homes on brownfield sites.  

New homes need to be built on both brownfield and greenfield land to tackle the housing crisis. But there are clear reasons to prioritise the development of brownfield land wherever we can.

Unlike greenfield development, which uses land which has never been built on, brownfield regeneration recycles previously developed sites. This approach is central to tackling the housing crisis while protecting the countryside, ensuring homes are built in more sustainable urban locations where they can support growth and productivity. 

• Tacking the Housing Crisis – housing shortages are worst in our towns and cities. This is where new homes are needed most.
• Strengthening communities – creating homes, jobs, amenities and infrastructure in existing neighbourhoods, raising quality of life for all.
• Regreening towns and cities – transforming urban eyesores into green and beautiful parkland where people connect with nature.
• Jobs, skills and social mobility – providing training and employment opportunities for local communities, helping to build long-term prosperity.
• Driving growth and productivity – urban renewal makes better use of existing infrastructure and drives the growth and productivity our country needs.

"Our brownfield-first approach will not only ramp up housebuilding, but also create more jobs, deliver much needed infrastructure, and boost economic growth across the country."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer

We are the only large UK homebuilder delivering brownfield regeneration at scale. 

Our carefully chosen brownfield sites are located within existing communities, where new investment can deliver greater benefits and value to a wide range of stakeholders.

Berkeley Group’s approach:

• Taking forward 32 complex regeneration projects – more than any other developer in the country 
• Each regeneration site will deliver over 1,000 homes, alongside new public infrastructure, amenities, commercial space, jobs, and the green open space 
• Each site individually designed in partnership with local councils and communities
• The only major homebuilder aligned with Government’s brownfield-first agenda

Overcoming the Challenges

There are inherent challenges with brownfield regeneration that few other developers can overcome:

• Building trust with communities and councils
• Complex planning and regulatory regimes
• Complex land assembly
• High up-front capital investment
• Site-specific constraints
• Major infrastructure delivery
• Maintaining delivery through housing market cycles

Solutions and Expertise

Berkeley has the skills, resources and operating model to deliver urban regeneration at scale. We excel at:

• In-depth community engagement
• Design-led approach and placemaking expertise
• Partnership working model
• Diverse in-house expertise
• Strong capital base and long-term operating model

“We are the only large-scale UK homebuilder focused on brownfield regeneration, which is a vital driver of growth and a powerful force for good in our towns and cities.”

Rob Perrins, Chair 

We believe that our focus on brownfield regeneration drives greater economic and social value. EY’s independent Economic Impact Assessment of Berkeley’s activities highlights the following key contributions:

• £13.6bn GDP (in five years)
• £3.8bn tax contribution (in five years)
• 27,000 jobs supported annually
• £2.3bn community contributions (in five years)
• 20,779 homes, 92% on brownfield land (in five years)

“On average, every new home built by Berkeley in the last five years has generated £290,000 of value to the state through taxation and contributions to the community.” 

From the EY 2025 Economic Impact Assessment.

Explore our case studies to see how former gasworks, industrial estates and other complex brownfield sites have been transformed into thriving neighbourhoods.