The Government should actively encourage building on brownfield sites and turning offices and other commercial property into homes to help solve the housing crisis according to members of the Family Building Society.

Well over half of those who took part in the society’s latest six-monthly survey  of members’ financial wellbeing want to see brownfield sites developed, while 47% were in favour of converting empty offices into residential property.

Family Building Society director of marketing Alistair Nimmo said: “This, our latest survey, shows that our members want practical solutions to be applied to solving the housing crisis. While using brownfield land for new home development presents its own challenges, it’s a welcome sign that the recent additional of ‘grey belt’ land into the National Planning Policy Framework will hopefully encourage more development on previously redundant land.”

He added: “Our members’ positive view on office and commercial premises conversions is encouraging as it highlights the need to breathe new life into city centres, but any empty building conversion needs to focus on quality, be architect led and be of a high standard.”

The Family Building Society’s Financial Autumn 2025 survey was sent to 27,269 members and received 4,276 responses.