The government hopes that the regeneration of brownfield land can help ease the demand for homes within existing towns and cities. As these developments get the go-ahead, it is up to architects and specifiers to make sure that the homes delivered feel rooted in the civic history of their surroundings.
An emphasis on delivering affordable housing and rejuvenating town centres through a ‘place first’ approach has been central to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s plan to alleviate the housing crisis during the opening months of his premiership – building on what the Labour government set out to achieve since 2024.
In August, the government announced the first wave of funding from its £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme, with almost £10bn allocated to support the delivery of more than 70,000 homes across England.
Alongside this, the latest National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) continues to place significant emphasis on making effective use of land within existing settlements. The framework encourages developments to make efficient use of land and increase density, while recognising the importance of well-designed places that take existing character into account.
Research from planning and development consultancy Lichfields highlights the scale of the opportunity, with analysis of brownfield land identifying capacity for up to 1.4m homes across the UK. Much of this land is associated with the UK’s industrial and commercial history, meaning regeneration must work with materials that reflect the aesthetic character of the area developed over decades or even centuries. This creates a central design challenge for architects. As more homes are delivered through the regeneration of previously developed land, the focus cannot simply be on how many units a site can accommodate, it must also consider how those homes contribute to the character of that site.
Material choice is an important part of the design process. Where existing buildings, industrial structures or distinctive architectural styles form part of the surrounding townscape, using materials that respond to this context can help create a stronger relationship between old and new.
The Cottonyards, part of the wider regeneration of Glasgow’s New Gorbals, is a strong example of this approach. The development delivers 100 apartments alongside the restoration of the Category C-listed Twomax Mill. Dating back to the early 1820s, the historic mill’s original brickwork and industrial character provided an important reference point. Alongside the retained mill, the newbuild element needed to establish its own contemporary identity while strengthening its relationship with the surrounding area. The material palette played an important role, with warm red multi-brick and brick detailing drawing on the character of the historic building without simply replicating it.
Clay brick can play a role in achieving this balance. A proven material with hundreds of years of use, its durability, colour stability and resistance to weathering can help buildings retain their appearance, contributing to reduced whole-life maintenance needs. Its thermal mass can also contribute to building performance and occupant comfort when considered as part of the appropriate overall building design.
Brick also offers considerable flexibility in terms of colour, texture and detailing, helping designers reference local character, reinterpret traditional materials or create a contemporary expression, depending on their requirements. It is for this reason that clay bricks are particularly well suited to regeneration projects, where the objective is not to recreate the past, but to establish a meaningful relationship between a site’s history and its future.
Through thoughtful specification and the considered use of materials such as clay brick, new housing can meet today’s needs while still delivering a ‘place first’ approach that contributes to a strong sense of identity that can endure for generations.
With a wide range of brick designs manufactured in the UK, Ibstock’s portfolio provides opportunities to create developments that respond to their surroundings while meeting the aesthetic and performance requirements of modern construction.
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