PUBLICATION REVIEW


Publication Review – “Releasing Brownfields” 
 

Page 90 The Australian Journal of Construction Economics & Building 

PUBLICATION REVIEW 
 
 

“Releasing Brownfields” 
Author Paul Syms 

Professor of Urban Land use in the Centre for the 
Built Environment, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom 

 
 
 

 

This publication, produced by the RICS 
foundation, considers the redevelopment 
of „Brownfield‟ sites. These are considered 
to occur when land has been previously 
used, and has not been returned to a 
pristine state. Accordingly, the land must 
first be upgraded to a suitable standard 
before redevelopment can occur. The 
prior usage may have left the land with 
partially demolished structures or with 
some form of contamination.  
 
The publication has emerged as a result 
of a two year study conducted by 
Professor Syms in the UK, and is a 
response to a political initiative intended to 
address the question of the physical 
regeneration of ageing cities.  
 
Whilst much of this study is specific to the 
UK, and treats the encountered problems 
within that cultural perspective, there is 
much that may be useful to the Australian 
practitioner. Twenty case examples would 
be of use and interest to any who would 
be involved with such a problem and 
chapters on risk assessment, 
Environmental concerns, the local 
community‟s concerns, transport and 
valuing brownfield land will strike a chord 
with developers and local authorities. 
 
A considerable amount of information 
concerning the problem of brownfield 
development in the UK has been gathered 
together, and a survey of 230 practitioners 
has produced a useful database, even 
although the statistical analysis used in 
the research is somewhat questionable at 

times (e.g. rank ordering based on 3 
decimal precision from a five point answer 
scale, and no confidence bounds). 
 
The publication was produced in April 
2001, and is 80 pages long. 
 
A.P.Jeary DSc., PhD, FAIB, FIStructE, 
FCIOB, MIEE, MAIBS