THE number of state bodies planning to release publicly owned land for development is set to rise by more than a fifth in the next 12 months.

The inaugural Lend Lease/ComRes Land and Regeneration Index interviewed 200 public sector officials with direct responsibility for land holdings.

Three quarters of officers (76%) expect to release publicly owned land for development in the next 12 months compared with just 63% in the previous year.

The new public sector land will predominately be used for residential development with a 27% rise in both social and private housing.

Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said: “I welcome this new survey, which shows the scope for releasing surplus and redundant public sector property.

“This will help provide more land for new homes and ensure value for taxpayers’ money. Central government is delivering on its promise to release thousands of acres of brownfield land, and all public sector bodies need to follow our example.”

Dan Labbad, Lend Lease’s Group Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive in Europe, said: “The release of more publicly owned land is what the residential sector needs.

“With the UK economy recovering, releasing public land will allow the industry to work to meet essential housing and infrastructural needs.

“The challenge for developers is to work with both the public sector and local communities to deliver the balanced and sustainable developments which are needed to increase the supply of housing and the accessibility of social infrastructure.”