Previously Developed Land PDL

The National Planning Policy Framework. Annex 2: Glossary. Originally published 27 March 2012 and last updated 7 February 2025 defines Previously Developed Land as being:

"Land which has been lawfully developed and is or was occupied by a permanent structure and any fixed surface infrastructure associated with it, including the curtilage of the developed land (although it should not be assumed that the whole of the curtilage should be developed). It also includes land comprising large areas of fixed surface infrastructure such as large areas of hardstanding which have been lawfully developed."

"Previously developed land excludes: land that is or was last occupied by agricultural or forestry buildings; land that has been developed for minerals extraction or waste disposal by landfill, where provision for restoration has been made through development management procedures; land in built-up areas such as residential gardens, parks, recreation grounds and allotments; and land that was previously developed but where the remains of the permanent structure or fixed surface structure have blended into the landscape."

See also the articles: Brownfield Land. and The grey, the brown and the golden rules of housing,

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Amberfield land.
• Are new towns and expanded settlements an effective means of delivering housing?
• Brownfield Land.
• Brownfield Land Release Fund BLRF.
• Brownfield registers.
• Building on fill.
• Common land.
• Contaminated land.
• Cover systems for land regeneration - thickness of cover systems for contaminated land (BR465).
• Greenfield land.
• Land banking.
• Methane and other gasses from the ground.
• Pink zones.
• Radon.
• Regeneration.
• Solid and liquid contaminants risk assessments.
• The grey, the brown and the golden rules of housing,
• The risk of asbestos on brownfield sites.
• Types of land.