HC Deb 06 February 1974 vol 868 cc1205-6
14. Mr. Goodhew

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he has made to discuss his policy on the metropolitan green belt with the Hertfordshire County Council.

Mr. Rippon

None, Sir, but there are frequent discussions upon green belt policy and related matters between council members and Ministers in my Department and between council officials and officials of my Department.

Mr. Goodhew

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that his recent decision to allow housing development on 138 acres at Jersey Farm, Sandridge, has caused anger and dismay in my constituency, particularly in the village of Sandridge, which will be adversely affected by it and by the new pattern of traffic that it will generate? Is he also aware that an application for a comprehensive development on the old Handley Page airfield at Radlett would enable a much better solution to our housing problems to be achieved? Will he, even at this late stage, reconsider the matter?

Mr. Rippon

In taking my decision I followed the recommendation of the inspector in that case; other applications will be considered on their merits. It is worth bearing in mind that in Hertfordshire all the unallocated land is either metropolitan green belt or interim protected land. This was interim protected land. We must recognise that these cases are considered on their merits.

Mr. Allason

While agreeing with my right hon. and learned Friend on the need to take more than 2,000 acres of green belt land, selecting the worst, to help the housing problem, may I ask whether he agrees that it is unsatisfactory to take it in a piecemeal manner? Would it not be better to have one review and then one release of those 2,000 acres and be finished?

Mr. Rippon

At the moment we follow the procedures which have been endorsed for many years, and there is a presumption against development in the green belt. I hope that the review of the green belt and the search for about 2,000 acres will be completed soon. Even then there will have to be consideration and there is, again, a presumption against development. This has to be looked at in the context of the fact that there are now 1.3 million acres of metropolitan or approved green belt. We cannot have everybody saying, Do not let us have Heaven crammed; Let all the rest be damned. Counties must accept that they must, where appropriate, make provision for housing.

Mrs. Renée Short

Is the Secretary of State saying that the county of Hertfordshire has not made its contribution to housing? Will he look at Hertfordshire's record since 1945? His statement was ridiculous.

Mr. Rippon

I know that in its second informal review Hertfordshire made the minimum provision for housing land up to September 1974, but it allocated no more than about one-third of a year's supply for the period 1974–77. I have helped Hertfordshire by saying that I did not think it was necessary to expand Stevenage by as much as some people thought, but this is on the assumption that Hertfordshire would play its part in bringing other land forward for housing.