URBAN land cannot be the only solution to the housing crisis, a report has suggested.

A study, by The Gracechurch Group, says Colchester, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Rossendale and South Cambridgeshire have 230 brownfield sites between them, which could provide 45,579 homes.

The report compares the amount of brownfield land shown on local council's brownfield registers with the Government’s recently published estimate of housing need.

Neil Lawson-May, from The Gracechurch Group, said the housing shortfall from brownfield land is even greater than what numbers suggest.

He said: "Brownfield is unevenly spread across the country and most brownfield is not in areas where there is high housing need.

"In the pilot, only two regions have sufficient brownfield capacity to accommodate their five-year housing requirement. Brownfield land can make a significant impact on the housing crisis, but it cannot solve it."

The report reviewed the sites identified on the new brownfield registers created by local planning authorities.

The study then used the Government’s new formula for housing need to assess whether there is enough brownfield land to solve the housing crisis.

Combined, the registers identify 4,894 brownfield sites, covering 12,960 hectares, which could provide around 300,000 new homes.

Most brownfield sites are very small – suitable for 15 homes or less.

Mr Lawson-May added if brownfield sites are not suitable, then it would be better to build on greenfield land than spend many years debating their future.

Rosie Pearson, secretary for the Campaign Against Urban Sprawl in Essex, said there are councils which do not have brownfield registers, and so a lot of potential sites could have been missed out.

She said: "We also see it as an error that brownfield sites in neighbouring villages have not been included in the Local Plan.

"Brownfield sites should be prioritised where possible, rather than going for huge swathes of countryside.

"There are a lot more brownfield sites out there."

The Gracechurch Group includes Palatium Investment Management, Dominic Lawson Bespoke Planning, Crocus Valley and Bonnar Allan.