HC Deb 02 May 1963 vol 676 cc1300-1
27. Mrs. Butler

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the ratio of parking space to square feet of office space in the new Vickers building; and how this ratio compares with that for other office buildings in Central London completed or approved during the last five years.

Mr. Corfield

I am informed that the car parking standards in use by the London County Council at the time when the Council granted planning permission for the erection of the Vickers building required one car space for every 2,500 sq. ft. gross of floor space. As the office building has an area of 500,000 sq. ft., this would have involved a minimum requirement of 200 car spaces. In fact, 210 spaces were provided.

The London County Council revised the standard in June, 1959, to one car space per 2,000 sq. ft. gross of office floor space. That remains the current standard.

Mrs. Butler

Bearing in mind that these skyscraper office blocks inevitably involve many more cars coming into London, will the hon. Gentleman initiate urgent discussions with the London County Council on this whole problem before any further consents are given? Does the hon. Gentleman realise that Middlesex, for example, has much more stringent conditions, which require one car parking space for every 500 sq. ft. of office space?

Mr. Corfield

My right hon. Friend has no evidence that the London County Council's standards are unreasonable. It is, of course, open to the Council to change them if it thinks fit.