How to analyse target sites via the Brownfield Site data layer

In This Tutorial:

• Overview of Brownfield Land analysis;

• Activating key layers in BOOM!;

• Identifying Pipeline Opportunities;

• Understanding Ownership and Planning Data.

Summary:

This tutorial demonstrates how to utilise BOOM!’s Data Studio to locate and evaluate brownfield land for potential inclusion in your pipeline. By leveraging layers such as planning, land titles, and conservation areas, users can identify suitable sites, assess ownership, and determine planning application histories. This step-by-step guide provides valuable insights for professionals aiming to streamline their site-sourcing strategies.

Maximising Brownfield Land Potential with BOOM!

BOOM!’s Data Studio offers a comprehensive toolset for identifying and evaluating brownfield sites. This tutorial focuses on using these tools to search for viable sites, assess ownership, and explore planning application histories.

Step 1: Locate Your Area of Interest

1. Start a session in BOOM!’s Data Studio and navigate to your area of interest. For this example, we used Old Street, London;

2. On the left toolbar, select Planning (panel 5) and activate the Brownfield Sites layer. This highlights all brownfield sites in the chosen area.

Step 2: Filter Land Titles

1. Open the Land Titles panel (toolbar panel 2);

2. Deselect options such as Unregistered, Leasehold, and Rent Charge to focus on Freehold titles;

3. Apply the filter to view relevant ownership boundaries. In this case, freehold land titles are highlighted in blue, overlaid with the green boundaries of brownfield sites.

Step 3: Analyse Ownership and Planning Applications

• Interact with land titles to reveal ownership details. For example, the tutorial identified titles owned by entities such as the City of London and the London Borough of Islington;

• Turn on the Planning Applications layer (toolbar panel 3) and apply filters for date ranges, size categories (e.g., medium and large), and types (e.g., full and outline applications);

• Assess planning application histories to determine development potential. For example:

  • Large developments (e.g., the Finsbury Centre Project) may not align with pipeline goals;

  • Sites with no planning history during the selected period could offer untapped opportunities.

Step 4: Drill Down Further

• Select a brownfield site and retrieve detailed information such as ownership (e.g., Searchgrade Limited) or planning application links;

• Save the data to your dashboard for future reference or follow hyperlinks to external databases like Companies House for further research.

Why Focus on Brownfield Land?

Brownfield land represents a significant opportunity for development, particularly in urban areas like London. Using BOOM!’s Data Studio, professionals can:

• Efficiently locate and assess potential sites;

• Gain insights into ownership and planning constraints;

• Develop a targeted and informed pipeline strategy.

Ready to optimise your site-sourcing efforts? Watch the full video tutorial below and start using BOOM!’s powerful tools to identify your next brownfield opportunity.