HOUSE builders in the region fear new rules on the disposal of waste could limit brownfield development.

The Landfill Directive, which came into force on Friday, may force developers to cut the number of houses being developed as the rules make brownfield sites less viable and more expensive to build on.

The legislation ends the co-disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

This will reduce the number of landfill sites in England and Wales able to take contaminated waste from 250 to ten.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said this will affect building on brownfield land.

The organisation fears developers will be faced with escalating remediation costs and probably difficulties in finding suitable landfill sites.

Increased disposal charges for waste could lead to more illegal dumping.

The group also suggests developers may have to turn to greenfield sites as an alternative.

Myles Kitcher, of RICS, said that although big projects may still go ahead, small developments will suffer as a result of the changes.

He said: "Pressure will increase on greenfield land.

"We predict an additional area equivalent to the size of a typical market town may need to be brought under development."

Tony Cooper from Bussey and Armstrong in Darlington said: "It's going to add to the cost of using brownfield land, but it will have to come out of the costs of development. We will either pay less for the land, or more likely, the houses will become more expensive to the purchaser as a result."

Barry Oliver, of the Federation of Master Builders in the North-East, said there was already a shortfall of 70,000 new houses.

He fears the new legislation will compound the problem and make meeting the Government's targets on affordable housing more difficult to meet.

Published: 20/07/2004