HC Deb 02 July 1975 vol 894 cc1450-1
11. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the problems brought about by new housing developments in the South-West of England due to lack of co-ordination by some local authorities, in particular with regard to the funds available for schools, health facilities and other essential requirements, if he will issue general guidance to local authorities on the overall planning requirements for such developments.

Mr. Freeson

I certainly favour more corporate planning. But if there are specific problems no doubt they will be put to me during the course of my visit to the South-West Region during the next two days.

Mr. Mills

Will the Minister bear in mind when he visits the South-West that this is a very real and growing problem, especially as some authorities are allowing large numbers of houses to be built without the equivalent number of places for education, health and other facilities? Will he look at this carefully, because many of my constituents are angry and annoyed at what is happening in certain areas?

Mr. Freeson

I shall certainly make it my business to seek further information on this matter during my visit. I would stress that housing development takes place not overnight but over a period of time. There is plenty of time for consultation between all the authorities concerned with the provision of different services to enable the right kind of corporate approach to be adopted. However, there are bound to be cases around the country where we need to make inquiries to be of assistance. I shall be glad to do this in the South-West.

Mr. Ronald Atkins

When my hon. Friend gives guidance, will he include in the essential requirements the need in housing developments to take into consideration access to public transport particularly in the South-West where public transport is not viable? Does he not agree that a major part of the problem involved in making public transport viable arises from the dispersal of estates in country areas without consideration of access to public transport?

Mr. Freeson

My hon. Friend has raised a matter which goes much deeper than matters of the rural areas of the South-West or elsewhere. Much of the character of all urban development over a good many years both in this country and elsewhere, has been influenced by what I might call the motorised society. This has made for greater difficulties in the relationship between housing and other developments and the public transport services. In so far as I can be of assistance to get a change of emphasis towards a more integrated approach in the layout and provisions of estates, I shall be only too glad to do so.

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