Update: The council has secured £2m of the Brownfield Land Release Fund to transform the town centre.

Reading’s brownfield land is big enough to provide space for more than 13,000 homes, according to council data.

Some of these could be built with newly announced cash made available by central government for areas that have been previously built on but are no longer in use.

A total of £57.8 million, the equivalent of 5,600 homes, will be given to councils across the UK to develop brownfield land, but it is unclear how much, if any, will make its way to Reading.

The Reading Chronicle have created a map which allows you to find 137 areas near you that are suitable for development and information about them.

Read more: Reading Council pushes for end to "awful accommodation"

Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, said: “We are levelling up and backing home ownership in every corner of the country, delivering new high-quality, affordable homes and creating thriving places where people want to live, work and visit.

“Making the most of previously developed land is a Government priority and it will help protect our cherished countryside and green spaces.”

At the same time, Reading Borough Council has proposed changes to planning rules in parts of the town which would make it more difficult for developers to turn buildings into poor-quality flats.

Read more: A multi-million pound home with a moat and indoor pool is on sale in Reading

Cabinet Office minister Lord Agnew said: “The latest projects to benefit from this support, through brownfield land release funding, will not only help unlock underused public sector sites for homes, but also help deliver jobs and save taxpayers’ money.”

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) said the investment could support up to “17,000 jobs” in the construction sector and wider economy.

The news comes as the average house price in Reading rose to £456,442 in the last 12 months, according to Zoopla.