CONCEPT FACTSHEET
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Primarily considers SOIL QUALITY challenges ****
Mostly in URBAN & PERI-URBAN settings
No Net Land Take (NNLT) Hierarchy: REUSE
Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Hierarchy: REVERSE
| Mostly linked to: | INDUSTRIAL ESTATES |
|---|---|
| Mail planning challenges it addresses: | RE-INDUSTRIALIZATION |
| POOR RESOURCE AND LAND-USE EFFICIENCY | |
| Main soil challenges it addresses: | CONTAMINATION |
| LOSS IN BIODIVERSITY IN SOILS | |
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NOTE LT: I think it is important that this page also reflects that brownfield sites can be turned into natural or agricultural land; not per se into urban development (see also regional morphologies page).
Redeveloping brownfield sites requires careful soil assessment and remediation to ensure environmental and human safety. Soil restoration is central to transforming previously contaminated land into productive urban spaces.
[…intro text. Relation to soil]
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Contents
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The term brownfield has historically been defined from different viewpoints, with variations in scope depending on the context. In the UK planning context, for instance, brownfield was understood as the opposite of greenfield, the latter being defined as “land which has not previously been developed” (Alker et al., 2000). In this sense, the term implied the presence of prior physical construction on the grounds, and often referred to sites associated with industrial activities, such as mineral extraction or sewage farming (ibid). In the United States, by contrast, definitions on brownfield included references to the condition of the site and its potential for redevelopment, implying that brownfield sites present contaminated soils. As defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency, brownfields are “abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination” (Tedd et al., 2001).
Recognising varying interpretations of the term, Alker et al. propose a broader, comprehensive definition, pointing at “any land or premises which has previously been used or developed and is not currently fully in use, although it may be partially occupied or utilised” (2000). This definition encompasses sites that can be vacant, derelict or contaminated, and stresses that interventions are needed for brownfield to be made available for use.
The concept of brownfield (re)development “refers to the transformation of derelict areas into productive ones, remediating environmental contamination and revitalizing surrounding communities and ecosystems, while promoting sustainable development and a better quality of life for current and future users” (Loures, 2023).
The application of this concept can help address the following soil-related planning challenges:
[…include a definition of each? Probably written by WP4]
This planning concept is mostly applied across peri-urban settings and in the outskirts of urban settlements, although it can also be linked to urban contexts.
Brownfield sites can be predominantly found in **industrial estates,** spatial settings characterized by low ratios of open surface and scarce vegetation, with large plots and street corridors. They are often located in urban peripheries.
Examples of the application of this concept in the planning practice can also be found in areas characterized by modernist/functionalist morphologies and open fields.