Brighton and Hove has topped the list for having the smallest proportion of land that has been developed in the South.

Latest land use statistics published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show the percentage of land in the city that has been developed is the lowest of any similar-sized unitary authority in the South of England.

The data shows that just 28.4 per cent of all land in Brighton and Hove’s 83 square kilometre area is classified as developed.

A big contributing factor is the South Downs National Park, which accounts for 40 per cent of the land area of Brighton and Hove, wrapping around most of the city from the coast.

A council spokesman said: “The twin boundaries of the seafront and the National Park are two of the features that make Brighton and Hove such a special place to live in or visit.

“They also present challenges when planning how to meet the growing needs of residents from the remaining land not within the park, but in some cases close to it.”

Of the land in the city listed as developed the largest elements are:

  • Roads, transport and utilities, which occupy 12.2 per cent of the land area
  • Housing including institutional and communal accommodation (7.5 per cent)
  • Community, leisure and recreational buildings (4.7 per cent) and
  • Industry and commerce (including offices, retail, storage and warehousing) which accounts for just one per cent of our land area.

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The major elements of land classified as “undeveloped” are:

  • Agricultural buildings and land, which makes up 34.2 per cent of all Brighton and Hove’s land area
  • Residential gardens (17.8 per cent)
  • Forest, open land and water (8.3 per cent), and
  • Outdoor recreation spaces (8.2 per cent)

Among other councils in the South of England which are also classified as unitary authorities and have a similar sized population per kilometre of area, Brighton and Hove has by far the lowest proportion of developed land according to the figures.

Compared with 28.4 per cent in Brighton and Hove, South Coast neighbours Portsmouth and Southampton both have approximately 50 per cent of their land developed, and no other comparable authority area is below 40 per cent.

Councillor Leo Littman, chairman of the city council's planning committee, said: “We have to weigh the city’s development needs, particularly for jobs and homes, against the continuing need to protect our environments and the nationally designated landscapes that surround the city.

“We have many exciting development projects under way across the city, and a commitment to deliver high quality and affordable housing to ensure our city thrives and grows in the future.

“To balance this, we are committed to safeguarding our green infrastructure.

“The policies in the recently adopted City Plan Part 2 reflect this, ensuring that development proposals must demonstrate that they will contribute positively to our green and open spaces, enhance biodiversity and conserve nature across the city.”