Housing Land (Hansard, 11 January 1978)

§ 3. Mr. Sainsbury
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the forward supply of land for housing.

§ The Minister for Housing and Construction (Mr. Reginald Freeson)
The message that I get is that there is no general shortage but that there are some local and individual difficulties.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
How does the Minister reconcile his complacency with the view of the National Federation of Building Trades Employers that there is a danger of a serious land shortage which requires immediate action to be taken?

§ Mr. Freeson
I have heard these views expressed, not only by the NFBTE but by other organisations involved in this area. I can only state that they are usually general statements that—to put it mildly—are not sufficiently supported by any firm evidence. We try to monitor as effectively as we can what is going on around the country on land supply and the servicing of land and planning applications that have been approved, and it is on that basis that I made the statement that I did.

§ Mr. Lipton
Is my right hon. Friend aware that for about 35 years Lambeth and Wandsworth have owned 100 acres in Kingston on which 4,000 houses could be built? When are they going to get on with that? Why are he and his Department putting every possible obstacle in the way of our getting on with that job and substantially reducing the very large housing list in Lambeth and Wandsworth?

§ Mr. Freeson
My hon. Friend is probably referring to a recent planning application and appeal that was dealt with by my right hon. Friend. I cannot add to the decision that was made on that case.

§ Mr. Tebbit
Is it not true that it is the Minister's figures that are generalised rather than particularised, and not the industry's? Is it not also true that a large amount of the land listed as being available for building is unsuitable or is very expensive land on which to build, and that there will be a considerable shortage of land for building at a reasonably low cost so that members of the general population may purchase their own homes?

§ Mr. Freeson
I have little doubt that the land owned under various structure plans and local plans around the country includes land that would be considered difficult for development both by private enterprise and by local authorities, but the basis of my statement is, at least in part, the fact that on the information available there is about three years' supply of land available for development which has planning permission and is main-serviced. There is a considerable further supply that has not yet reached that stage.