The latest available official statistics show almost half of new homes in England are being built on greenfield sites.
Only 53% of housing developments, or 3,138 acres, were on brownfield sites in 2011. This was the lowest annual total for 25 years. The percentage of housing developments on brownfield land was more than 70% in 2008. Campaign groups fear a ruling in the appeal court this month that allowed the building of 116 homes on green-belt land in St Albans, Hertfordshire, has set a precedent and heightens concerns about the National Planning Policy Framework introduced last year.
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