Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of converting brownfield sites into green spaces and parks.

The National Planning Policy Framework (2019) makes it clear that high-quality open space and accessible green infrastructure are vital for our physical and mental health. Each piece of previously developed land has its own characteristics, and the Government expects local authorities, in consultation with local people, to consider and plan how a particular brownfield site might best be re-used. Some brownfield sites have taken on importance as wildlife habitat, which should be protected and enhanced; other brownfield may be in the right location for a new park. Our focus is on using as much suitable brownfield as possible for new homes in layouts and settings that incorporate, from the outset, new green space, trees and other green infrastructure. Best practice is illustrated in the recent National Design Guide to creating beautiful, enduring and successful places.

In October 2019 the Secretary of State announced a £1.35 million investment in a new Pocket Parks programme, and we provided funding to 68 successful applicants. Covid-19 has delayed some action by applicants, but the Department has now given backing to 352 pocket parks in total. The funding allows recipient groups to transform neglected urban spaces – not just brownfield but other unused and unloved plots of land - into thriving green havens the whole community can enjoy.

In the last two years we have also made more than £16 million available to support parks and green spaces including:

• £9.7 million for the Local Authority Parks Improvement Fund;
• £5.1 million for the Pocket Parks and Pocket Parks Plus programmes;
• £1.41 million to pilot new management and funding models for parks through the Future Parks Accelerator programme and to support the Parks Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne;
• £55,000 to fund a Parks Action Group Coordinator;
• £30,000 on work with Natural England to develop new standards for green spaces; and
• a £130,000 Community Empowerment Programme encouraging local people to get involved in stewardship of community parks and green spaces.