Dozens of ‘ghost estates’ set to become greenfield sites

Dozens of barely-started ‘ghost estates’ could be turned into greenfield sites next year as the Government puts pressure on developers and their lenders to either finish them or knock them.

Although around 1,300 unfinished housing schemes still remain to be knocked, made safe or completed, the development could see around 40 of the most commercially unviable undergo entire site clearances.

The move follows identification by councils and the Department of the Environment some of the least marketable schemes and talks are now taking place with the owners of the sites and their financial institutions.