Victoria Hills said that for all the recent upheaval around government, the one constant has been an emphasis on growth: “This government is committed to growth. So, if there was ever a time when industry can rock up and say, ‘this is what we need’ this is the time because they're in a hurry to deliver.”
Pat Boyle: “It’s a cocktail of ingredients that unlock brownfield projects. As contractors we’d like to be involved much earlier rather than at the tail end - we think we've got a big part to play, the value that these kinds of developments bring is something that we really need to drum home with the authorities. How we then bring that into decision-making and funding is a challenge.”
Duncan Cumberland added: “There are supply chain difficulties, but we’ve been here before. We are a resilient industry. We've all had appraisals with viability gaps, and I think we’ve got to hold our nerve here. It’s a necessity that brownfield development happens.”
Rachel Laver said: “There's a lot of learning already out there, so let's take that learning and all the knowledge. I would say if government were serious about levelling up and wanting to make a quick impact, let’s concentrate on those sites that have been waiting for decades, because then people will actually be able to see a real difference to their communities. It'll create employment and hopefully, it'll create affordable housing without destroying our green belt.”
Neil Murray concluded: “There are huge opportunities for brownfield and the best way to unlock those is through understanding their environment and context and what surrounding communities need, and data-driven insights have an increasing part to play in helping developers create distinctive visions for brownfield regeneration.”
“Brownfield feels difficult, but the demand is still there. Everyone needs to realise that these sites aren't going anywhere unless they get public funding and engagement with the private sector. The underlying fundamentals are still there, and we can make it happen if we approach it in the right way.”
