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Table 6. Definition of brownfield in the United States, the United Kingdom
and Hong Kong

Jurisdiction Definition

United Previously developed land with future potential
Kingdom for being redeveloped

United Abandoned industrial land which has been
States contaminated

Agricultural land in the rural New Territories
Hong Kong occupied by various haphazard industrial operations ,
which are often incompatible with the surroundings .

Sources: Development Bureau, Department for Communities and Local
Government (UK), and the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Given the set of differing definitions, it follows naturally that brownfield
sites in the UK and Hong Kong are very different as well. For instance, as high-
lighted in Section 3.1, the vast majority of brownfield sites in Hong Kong are pri-
vately owned and are currently with specific operational usage, be it a carpark
or recycling yard. Whilst this admittedly generates debatable efficiency of land
resources utilisation and hence room for improvement, the fact remains land
resumption, resettlement and compensation are called for before large-scale
and systematic development of these brownfield sites could be carried out.

In contrast, brownfield sites in the UK are predominantly vacant or
derelict. According to the National Land Use Database 2010, local planning au-
thorities identified an estimated 68,910 hectares of brownfield in UK, an esti-
mated 37,940 hectares of which were vacant or derelict, 55% of the total. The
remaining 30,980 hectares were in use but with potential for redevelopment
(Figure 26).

Figure 26. Status of brownfield sites in the United Kingdom.

18% 23%

7%

27%
Other currently in use with known potential
for redevelopment
25%
Previously-developed land now vacant
Derelict land / buildings
Currently in use with permission or allocation
for redevelopment
Derelict land / buildings

Source: UK National Land Use Database 2010.
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