COUNTRYSIDE campaigners are fighting for the brownfield building target to be upped from 60 per cent to 85 per cent.

Countryside campaigners Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), says there is a large amount of wasted and neglected land within towns and cities which is crying out for development. And to resolve this, the campaign wants 85 per cent of new homes to be build on these sites.

CPRE carried out a study which found the neglect of sites such as empty or underused car parks, derelict land and former industrial premises was common.

CPRE planning campaigner Kate Gordon, said: "Our research shows significant opportunities for development on brownfield sites are being missed, for a variety of reasons.

"London alone has enough small sites close to town centres to accommodate around 60,000 new homes."

The Government has already exceeded its 60 per cent target and 77 per cent of new homes are now built on brownfield land. But CPRE feels there is a case for an increase.

Clarence Row in Gravesend was recently built on brownfield land. The scheme was built on a site owned by Gravesham Borough Council which previously hosted a car park.

Zia Mirza, Hyde's principal development manager for Hyde Housing, which manages the affordable units at the site, says Hyde supports brownfield development.

Hyde Housing works with the developer Barratt Homes to resolve housing problems.

He said: "We use brownfield land wherever possible and Hyde is committed to working with housebuilders to resolve housing issues such as unused and brownfield land.

"It's important to clear up unused land and bring the community something which is sustainable."