HC Deb 20 February 1968 vol 759 c207
9. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many dwellings will now be erected on the council's site at Castlecroft, Wolverhampton, under the scheme approved by his Department; how many were to have been provided under the original scheme which he approved and which was discarded by the local authority; and what will be the total additional cost to the ratepayers of Wolverhampton.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. James MacColl)

The revised scheme has not yet been sent to the Department for formal approval. I understand it will provide for some 156 dwellings. The earlier scheme was for 288. My right hon. Friend is not in a position to make any detailed cost comparisons.

Mrs. Short

Does not my hon. Friend think that it is a very serious matter for a town with a land shortage and a long waiting list for houses to lose 130 housing units on one site alone? Is he aware that the discarded plan cost the ratepayers £40,000 and that this had to be met by increasing council house rents? Will he look at the matter again and urge the local authority to reconsider the original scheme?

Mr. MacColl

I do not think that the old scheme went to final tender on cost, and the new scheme has not yet reached us. I cannot, therefore, compare costs. But I will bear in mind what my hon. Friend has said.