Who is Agent Plan-It?
Agent Plan-It is a town planning superhero!
She knows all there is to know about town planning and is helping us learn all about how to plan a town!
Watch this video about where you can build houses…
After that you should have a good idea about what where town planners can and cannot build houses.
Why do we need to build more houses?
More houses are needed because the population (that means number of people) is going up.
These people need places to live so we need to build more houses for them.
So where can we build houses?
One option is to build more houses in towns, cities and villages that already exsist.
You may have seen houses being built around where you live, this is making where you live bigger by increasing the number of houses and people in the area.
What if I want to build a whole new town rather then add to an old one?
You can do that. Sometimes it’s a better idea to find somewhere new to build rather then adding to a town or city that already exists.
So where can you build houses?
Well the first thing to know is that you can’t just build anywhere, you need permission. How easy it is to get permission depends on the type of land.
What are the different types of land?
Brownfield
A brownfield site is somewhere in a town or city that has already been build on before.
For example, places where factories used to be or old industrial estates are popular brownfield sites to build on.
These places are the easiest to get permission for as they have already had a building on it and they are usually derelict so it’s better to turn it into nice houses rather then leave it abandoned.
Greenfield
Greenfield sites are places that have never been build on before.
These are harder to get permission for because people like to preserve big green spaces and try not to build too much in the countryside and in nature.
Greenbelt
Green belt is land that is protected and you are not allowed to build on it.
It’s called green belt as it usually goes around a town or city (like a belt) and is there to stop the town getting too big and ruining the countryside around it.
Your mission is to complete this quiz about the different places people build houses…
Why do we need to build more houses?
- Because the population is going up
- Because houses are getting smaller
- Because people want bigger gardens
- Because there are too many parks
What is a brownfield site?
- Land in a town or city that has been built on before
- A field full of brown cows
- A muddy playground
- A forest with brown leaves
Why are brownfield sites often easier to get permission to build on?
- Because they have already been built on
- Because they are always in the countryside
- Because they are free to buy
- Because they have no owners
What is a greenfield site?
- Land that has not been built on before
- A park with green grass
- A golf course
- A garden centre
Why might building on greenfield land be more difficult?
- Because it can be important for wildlife and farming
- Because it is always too windy
- Because there are no roads
- Because it is too flat
What do you need before you can build houses on land?
- Permission
- A big ladder
- A tractor
- A map
What is one option for building more houses?
- Add to towns, cities and villages that already exist
- Build on top of mountains
- Build in the sea
- Build in the middle of a motorway
What is another option for building more houses?
- Build a whole new town
- Build on a beach
- Build underground
- Build on a river
Who helps decide where houses can be built?
- Town planners
- Footballers
- Chefs
- Astronauts
What might a brownfield site have been used for in the past?
- A factory
- A swimming pool
- A school
- A hospital
