HC Deb 06 December 1972 vol 847 cc1295-6
31. Mr. John D. Grant

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy in considering applications for office development permits for speculative developments in central London.

Mr. Channon

Applications for speculative office developments in central London are generally acceptable if they provide for the replacement of obsolescent premises by new buildings offering roughly the same amount of accommodation; otherwise speculative develop- ments are allowed only if substantial public advantages can be identified.

Mr. Grant

In the light of that reply, will the Minister say how he can publicly justify the approval of a permit for a £20 million speculative development in Shoe Lane, just off Fleet Street, for Capital and County Properties, for no particular tenant? I think that the Minister knows the chairman of the company well enough. Is not this just another rather scandalous example of pandering to profiteers?

Mr. Channon

If the hon. Gentleman has a specfic case in mind, perhaps he will table a Question upon it.

Mr. Tugendhat

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the time has come to switch the emphasis of development in central London away from office building and towards the provision of more residential property? Now that my hon. Friend has resumed his interest in housing affairs, I hope that we shall see a decisive change in that direction.

Mr. Channon

I certainly note my hon. Friends views, which he has expressed to me very forcibly on many occasions.

Mr. Crosland

The Opposition will want to pursue the question of speculative office development permits at greater length on another occasion. However, may I put this question in a wider context? Is it not the case that the report of the Layfield Inquiry on the Greater London Development Plan is required to say something about office strategy in central London? Can the Minister say whether that report has been received? Above all, can he assure the House that, contrary to recent Press reports, when he has the report he will publish it for public discussion before the Government come to a conclusion on it?

Mr. Channon

As the right hon. Gentleman will have seen, there is a specific Question on that matter later on the Order Paper.