Addressing housing shortages, the Government has launched Platform4, a property company aimed at transforming surplus railway land into up to 40,000 homes over the next decade.
Neighbourhoods in Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Cambridge will be transformed with homes, green spaces, shops and hotels.
While appreciating the intent of the announcement, Burton Knowles partner Guy Emmerson said: “The government’s ambition to deliver up to 40,000 new homes on former railway land is encouraging in theory, particularly in the face of our ongoing housing shortage. However, the practical realities of developing such sites present significant challenges that must not be underestimated.
“These sites often lack critical infrastructure, notably connections clean water supplies and modern sewage systems. Retrofitting utilities into brownfield land is a complex and costly undertaking, often requiring bespoke solutions that can delay delivery timelines and stretch local authority resources. The fragmented nature of old rail corridors further complicates access and construction logistics, often necessitating creative engineering and careful planning consents.
“The government must also be wary of the ambition of scale, as it raises concerns about workforce availability. The construction sector is already experiencing a skills shortage, delivering quality housing at pace requires not just strategic land release but a concerted effort to ensure the labour market can support it, from planners and surveyors to on-the-ground contractors.
“And that’s all without considering the environmental and heritage sensitivities. Many railway lands are home to wildlife corridors or listed structures. Any redevelopment must balance urgent housing needs with sustainable and sensitive regeneration.”