HC Deb 28 March 1973 vol 853 cc1279-81
4. Mr. Sydney Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to local planning authorities asking them to make public details of land which would receive outline planning approval for residential development within their areas and land which already has received such approval.

The Minister for Housing and Construction (Mr. Paul Channon)

Local planning authorities have already been asked by Circular 102/72 to publish information of land which either already enjoys planning permission for housing or seems suitable for such development within the next five years.

Mr. Chapman

Will my hon. Friend tell the House how many local authorities have responded to Circular 102 of last year, and since there seems to be an increasing delay in dealing with both outline detailed planning applications, has not the time come for a more positive approach by planning officers, before the detailed planning stage application, in terms of assisting applicants in the minor problems needing to be sorted out?

Mr. Channon

As to the first point, about 44 authorities have published this information so far. The remainder are going to do so within a very short time. I shall certainly take note of my hon. Friend's other suggestions and discuss them with my right hon. and learned Friend.

Mr. Skinner

Does the Minister not think that a more sensible idea might be to send a circular to local authorities telling them to draw up plans for the taking over of all urban redevelopment land? That is the only way we can solve the housing shortage.

Mr. Channon

I do not think that that is a particularly sensible idea for a circular, but if the hon. Member will undertake to obey any circular sent out I shall certainly consider anything that he has in mind.

Mr. Freeson

Will the Minister tell the House how much truth there was in reports which appeared over the weekend in the Sunday Press saying that he is drawing up plans for a massive takeover by his Department of land which has received planning approvals for residential development over a number of years has not yet been developed on those approvals? Will he also say whether the GLC is included among the 44 authorities he mentioned? Is it publishing details of land with approvals granted but not yet developed?

Mr. Channon

On his first point the hon. Member has possibly been confused by the suggestion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his Budget Statement, concerning the land hoarding charge, which was probably the basis of that newspaper report. My right hon. and learned Friend is to make further details available to the House in the near future. As to the hon. Member's second point, as he probably knows, the circular was related to local authorities outside London.