HC Deb 17 December 1968 vol 775 cc1144-5
4. Mr. Hunt

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to make it obligatory for local authorities to purchase at market value any properties blighted by redevelopment proposals without the necessity of the owners having to prove hardship.

29. Mr. E. Rowlands

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress he has made in his consideration of the memorandum submitted to him by the Chartered Lands Society on the question of compensation provision on planning and redevelopment; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. K. Robinson

This issue is being considered as part of the present review of compensation which will take into account the views among others of the Chartered Land Societies, with whom there have been three meetings.

Mr. Hunt

In the meantime, will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that hardship is a very difficult factor to define and that it is a very shattering experience for people to find overnight that their home has become subject to redevelopment proposals; we should be able to afford to be generous to people who have suffered this kind of uneasiness and unhappiness?

Mr. Robinson

The Government recognise this problem, and in what might be called "near" cases of blight local authorities have been asked to purchase on a discretionary basis where there is hardship.

Mr, Macdonald

Is it not the case that redevelopment proposals are published so that public opinion can be brought to bear on them and, if necessary, alterations made to them? Therefore, if there were to be instant purchase, as is here suggested, would not the council possibly be buying properties for which it might have no use? Why should I as a ratepayer in Bromley have my money wasted in this way?

Mr. Robinson

One has to balance a number of considerations here. One must always have regard to hardship in the case of the individual.

Mr. Peter Walker

In view of the very real hardship caused on an increasing scale by planning blight, would not the Government urgently look at the possibility of at least guaranteeing building societies which are willing to provide mortgages for such properties? This is one of the very real problems involved.

Mr. Robinson

I should like to await the result of the review, which we expect some time next year.