HC Deb 31 January 1966 vol 723 cc663-4
6. Mr. Sandys

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when he proposes to hold the inquiry into that part of the Whitehall Plan which relates to the redevelopment of the west side of Parliament Square known as Broad Sanctuary; whether the buildings on both sides of Princes Street will be included in the inquiry; what form the inquiry will take; and what will be its terms of reference.

Mr. C. Pannell

"Princes Street", it says in the Question. I think it is still Storey's Gate. I have been over the territory. I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government about the arrangements for holding a public inquiry on his direction, into the future of the area bounded by Parliament Square, Broad Sanctuary, Princes Street and Great George Street. I hope it will shortly be possible to announce the name of the person who will be appointed to hold the inquiry, together with the terms of reference, the firm scope and other particulars of the inquiry. I hope this can be held in the late spring of this year.

Mr. Sandys

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his Answer will give wide satisfaction to those who felt that this was a matter which really did need to be inquired into, and that although it does not cover all aspects of the plan it does cover some of the most important ones? May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will just clarify one point? Perhaps I was wrong in describing it as Princes Street, but he knows the street I mean. Will the inquiry include the houses of both sides of that street?

Mr. Pannell

I have a map in front of me. It will not go towards the direction of Old Queen Street. It will be bounded by Storey's Gate, which the right hon. Gentleman calls Princes Street.

Mr. Sandys

It will includes the houses on the opposite side of the street—that is to say, the same side as Central Hall, Westminster? All those houses?

Mr. Pannell

Yes. I only want to make clear, on the previous matter, that we attach a very great deal of importance to this inquiry, because the scope of the Martin and Buchanan proposals was so wide that this may well be a precedent for others.

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