§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will indicate the date or dates on which the Land Commission purchased the four sites still owned by his Department, and listed in the answer by the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Barnett) on 13th November; and whether he will give specific details for each site as to why it has not been possible to dispose of it between 1974 and the present date.
§ Mr. Guy Barnett:The site of Horn-church airfield was purchased as to part on 10th March 1969 and the remainder on 25th March 1975. The land was rich 29W in gravel and the Government decided that this should be extracted and the land restored before development. The local authority revived its earlier interest in the land when extraction was nearly complete and negotiations with it are now in progress.
The land at South End Road Horn-church, was purchased on 10th March 1969 as part of a larger site but was not resold by the Land Commission with the remainder because it appeared to be suitable for extension of an adjoining filling station. The petrol company could not, however, meet the requirements of the local planning authority and withdrew its interest in June 1978 since when other uses of the site have been under discussion with the local planning authority.
The land at Collinshill, Lichfield, was purchased on 25th March 1970. The county council had earmarked the site for a school but may not now require it, in which case normal disposal procedures will be put in hand.
The land at Asket Hill, Leeds, was purchased on 20th January 1970. For further details, I refer the hon. Member to a separate answer today.