The UK government has set an ambitious target of building 370,000 new homes annually, in an effort to tackle the country’s ongoing housing shortage. This goal is part of a broader commitment to deliver 1.5 million homes 1 over a five-year period.Meeting this target will require careful consideration, especially in light of increasing focus on sustainable building practices and ecological responsibility.
As the housing shortage persists and pressure mounts to develop land in a more environmentally conscious way, brownfield sites have become an increasingly vital part of the solution.
Craig Murphy, Regional Managing Director at MCI Developments discusses the importance of unlocking brownfield land and the role of regional developers in accelerating housing delivery across the UK. Brownfield land is defined as previously developed sites and is often former industrial or commercial land now no longer fulfilling a purpose. These sites can hold enormous potential for redevelopment, particularly when located close to existing transport links, services and infrastructure.
Regenerating brownfield land not only accelerates housing delivery, but also supports wider goals around urban regeneration, sustainable developments and the creation of thriving communities. Unlocking brownfield land Redeveloping brownfield land, especially sites that are more complex or affected by contamination is often a nuanced process. Environmental factors such as flood risk, ground conditions and biodiversity considerations, along with evolving requirements like Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) create a more detailed and considered planning and delivery
process. Across the UK, these brownfield sites are essential to sustainable housing delivery.
At MCI Developments, we work exclusively within the affordable housing sector, unlocking these sites is not just about building homes but about delivering meaningful social and economic value in areas that need it most. Working in partnership with local authorities and housing associations, together we bring forward sites that many private-sale-led developers would overlook. With developments across the country, from the North West to Yorkshire, we transform unused land into high-quality, multi-tenure homes.
Earlier this year, we marked the start on site for a new brownfield development in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The scheme, delivered in partnership with leading social housing provider Your Housing Group (YHG), will see a two-acre brownfield site in Aspull transformed into 38 modern, affordable homes. Every home will include solar PV panels and electric vehicle charging points, reflecting our ongoing commitment to delivering sustainable, future-proofed communities.
The team also secured a new partnership with Great Places Housing Group to deliver 53 affordable homes on the site of the former Bedford Cotton Mill in Oldham. The two-acre brownfield site, located near Holt Street, was acquired for development in January and will be regenerated through an £11 million investment, part-funded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund. The scheme will provide much-needed affordable homes while breathing new life into a disused industrial site.
Working in partnership Bringing forward affordable homes on brownfield land requires more than technical expertise. It depends on strong collaboration between developers, local authorities and housing providers. At MCI Developments our long-established partnership model, built on collaboration and shared goals, has helped us successfully deliver developments that respond to both housing demand and the needs of local people. While the planning environment has become more demanding, these strong relationships have proven vital in helping to
navigate change and unlock opportunities. As we look ahead, this partnership-first approach remains central to bringing forward homes and creating thriving communities where people want to live.
Unlike traditional housebuilders, the company does not operate private sales. Instead, all homes are delivered in collaboration with housing associations and councils, ensuring that every scheme directly supports local needs. In many cases, councils may have underutilised land but lack the internal resources or funding to progress development. MCI Developments helps unlock these opportunities, bringing investment, construction expertise and long term commitment. This partnership- first approach allows developments to progress more efficiently and with greater certainty.
While brownfield regeneration presents a powerful opportunity to meet housing targets sustainably, it requires bold thinking, long-term commitment, and partnerships. Our commitment to delivering affordable homes on brownfield land supports long-term regeneration goals. Our developments are designed to contribute to creating sustainable communities, including creating accessible neighbourhoods, enhancing connectivity and investing in energy-efficient design and construction.
For more information, please visit: : www.mcidevelopments.com