HC Deb 11 February 1958 vol 582 cc198-9
22. Mr. MacColl

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what changes in the development of the county borough of Tynemouth have rendered Thrift Street redundant as an area zoned for industrial use.

Mr. H. Brooke

The law enables a local planning authority to make an order revoking planning permission if it appears to them expedient having regard to the development plan and to any other material considerations. In this case, the Tynemouth County Borough Council has made a revocation order for the reasons explained in my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle on 17th December.

Mr. MacColl

Will the Minister give an undertaking that he will not approve of any attempt to reserve land for industrial purposes and thus present a bonus price to the present owners? Does it not seem a regrettable precedent that he should advise a local authority to juggle with planning permissions in order to rig the prices of land, thus creating considerable difficulties in good local government practice?

Mr. Brooke

I sympathise with the Tynemouth Borough Council in its desire not to make a profit out of its land by its own actions in re-zoning it. The position in reference to the supplementary question asked by the hon. Member is that the Tynemouth Council has made a revocation order and has submitted it for my confirmation. I am not aware of any objections having been raised in any quarter.