DCLG has set out details of its proposed Community Right to Reclaim Land which aims to allow local people to request sell-off of vacant public, but not private, buildings and land which could then be developed.
Such a system has existed since the 1980s but there has only been one application in the past 13 years and the Government says this is because it is obscure and restrictive.
But it says its plans to widen access to information on public land and a new system under which most requests would be assessed under planning casework rather than needing ministerial approval should make it easier.
"It's completely unacceptable that people have to walk past derelict land and buildings every day, in the knowledge that there's almost no prospect they will be brought back into use, and there's absolutely nothing they can do about it," said housing minister Grant Shapps.
"For years, communities who have attempted to improve their local area by developing disused public land and buildings have found themselves bouncing off the walls of bureaucratic indifference - their attempts to do something positive for their community thwarted by a system that has proved totally ineffective."
He said communities could access information on availability of disused public land online and their requests would be listened to.
Powers for "public requests to order disposal" already exist under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 but ministers hope to lay regulations before June to turn this into the Community Right to Reclaim Land.
DCLG says there is 16,000ha of brownfield land owned by public bodies.
Concurrently the Homes & Communities Agency has set up a website categorizing its own land and property assets.
"We hope that by publishing details of our assets, it will be easier for local authorities and others to see where we might be able to help them achieve their housing and regeneration ambitions," said chief executive Pat Ritchie.
