HC Deb 08 March 1972 vol 832 c1432
16. Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what requests he has received from Bournemouth and Christchurch for his approval to the early release of more green belt land for residential development; and if, in view of the present levels of land prices in the area, he will approve them.

Mr. Graham Page

No such request has yet been received by my right hon. Friend; but he will take both current land needs and green belt policy into account when considering any proposals which come before him to release sites for housing.

Mr. Cordle

Does my hon. Friend agree that in the Borough of Christchurch the areas within the proposed Hampshire Green Belt which the Minister in 1961 agreed were of no value to the green belt should now be released from their restrictions?

Mr. Page

It is for the local planning authority in the first instance to consider whether the land should now be released for development. My right hon. Friend will consider on their merits any proposals to this end which are put before him. I shall be arranging local conferences of local authorities, landowners, developers and builders to consider the land availability problem in the South Hampshire area from Poole to Portsmouth.