Network Rail is set to unlock land for 12,000 new homes by 2020.

The company is in the process of finalising plans to release the land for the development of around 12,000 new homes to play its part in meeting the government’s target to release enough land to build 160,000 homes.

Almost 200 sites throughout the country have been picked out as suitable for housing development.

Included in this is enough land space for around 5,000 homes in London, 3,600 in Manchester and the North, 1,700 in the Midlands and East of England, and around 1,400 homes in the South of England.

The ambitious scheme has already started with the biggest 20 sites. The projects earmarked include a major scheme at Chesterton near Cambridge which will release enough land for more than 800 homes, and the former Exchange Station site in Manchester which will deliver enough land for 700 homes.

Network Rail will partner with developers to release land on a site by site basis over the next three to four year period.

The firm is also considering an accelerated approach which would see some sites grouped together and sold as multi-site developments. These sites could go to market as soon as spring next year.

Managing Director of Network Rail Property, David Biggs, commented: “As we now ramp up our land release programme to deliver thousands more homes, we will be working closely with the Homes and Communities Agency, London Land Commission, local authorities and developers to bring identified sites forward to help meet the country’s housing needs.”

Meanwhile, two thirds of the new London Bridge station concourse was officially opened to commuters at the end of last month.

The redevelopment is part of Network Rail’s railway upgrade plan and the government-sponsored Thameslink programme which will transform north-south travel through London by 2018.