Housing Land

HC Deb 17 October 1973 vol 861 cc187-9

12. Mr. Evelyn King

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress made by local authorities in increasing land release, following his statement that there shall now be a general presumption, subject to certain conditions, that land will be released for housing.

Mr. Channon

The new planning guidelines issued on 1st October are a means of ensuring that planning permissions for housing will match the need for housing land in such a way as to safeguard the environment and preserve the principles of good planning.

Mr. King

Is my hon. Friend aware that, meanwhile, planning authorities are refusing to accept the bill, sometimes for reasons which verge on the frivolous, and that there is no remedy because, as my right hon. and learned Friend said, there is a delay of 33 weeks in the appeals system? Is my hon. Friend further aware that even when consent is given it is often after a delay of a year or more while local authorities, two or more, pass pieces of paper to and fro? The system—and it is the system—is at the point of breakdown, and the matter is urgent.

Mr. Channon

I have a lot of sympathy with what my hon. Friend said, but I should not go as far as he did. If my hon. Friend is referring to the system, I can tell him that my right hon. and learned Friend has announced this urgent review by Mr. George Dobry to consider it, and I shall send my hon. Friend a copy of the terms of reference.

Mr. Ted Rowlands

Will the hon. Gentleman review one aspect of the circular, namely, the deliberate incitement to local planning authorities to relax controls on high densities? Is not the hon. Gentleman introducing another era of jerry building and overcrowded development outside those areas that have high concentrations or high hereditament standards?

Mr. Channon

The paragraph on densities refers to the circular issued by the former Ministry of Housing and Local Government in 1969, which was when the hon. Gentleman was a member of the Government.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

What progress has been made in securing the release of railway land for housing, particularly in greater London?

Mr. Channon

If my hon. Friend wants to know the exact numbers of acres perhaps he would put down a Question on the subject. Substantial progress has been made here, and I should be delighted to give my hon. Friend details of it.

Mr. Lipton

In view of the reluctance of Tory-controlled outer London local authorities to provide housing land to Labour-controlled inner London authorities, will the hon. Gentleman consider making a much bigger bite into the green belt, otherwise London's desperate housing problem will never be solved?

Mr. Channon

No, Sir. It would be wrong to go further than what my right hon. and learned Friend has announced, which is that the planning conference should be asked to look at 2,000 acres. Nearly everyone in the House—the hon. Gentleman is one exception—believes that as far as possible we should leave the green belt inviolate.