Unused Public Land (Hansard, 20 July 1988)

§ 7. Mr. Bevan
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the draft planning circular regarding the development of unused public land.

§ Mr. Trippier
The draft planning policy guidance note on local plans were issued on 15 June. I have had very few representations so far. The consultation period continues until 10 August.

§ Mr. Bevan
In furtherance of the initiative for inner cities, and to assist in the continued refurbishment of the urban infrastructure, will my hon. Friend extend the directions, which now apply only to local authorities, to public utilities and Government bodies generally, so that they list their unused land and ensure that it is brought on to the market?

§ Mr. Trippier
I can reassure my hon. Friend. Under the inner cities initiative, which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister six months ago, not only local authorities but public utilities and Government Departments should be responsible for maintaining and publishing records of unused and under-used land in their possession.

§ Rev. Martin Smyth
Does the Minister accept that such guidance to Government Departments should say that what is needed is not just money but facilities for young people? Does he accept also that the money spent on the Stranmillis training college ground at Shaw's Bridge could be better used on a sports complex in Northern Ireland, along the lines of Billy Bingham's imaginative scheme?

§ Mr. Trippier
I shall draw the hon. Gentleman's comments to the attention of my right hon. and hon. Friends in the Northern Ireland Office. We must be specific about what we are discussing. We are talking about an audit, not only of land, but of buildings, supplied by local authorities and by other public utilities and Government Departments. The direction that it is within our power to issue is another matter, which we shall discuss later.

§ Mr. Alexander
Has my hon. Friend noticed the number of questions that are being tabled on this subject, showing the close interest in it—not least my question No. 62? Is he aware that a more robust attitude towards unused derelict land is likely to go a long way towards easing the housing shortage about which we all hear?

§ Mr. Trippier
My hon. Friend is right. It was for that precise reason that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced the initiative on this audit of property owned by local authorities and other public bodies. We are conscious of the fact that many public bodies are land hoarders and are not pressed to bring that land back on to the market. That intention lies behind the new initiative, and we are determined to see it through.

§ Mr. Eastham
Why do we concentrate on land owned by local authorities and public bodies and never think about the private landowners, who often sterilise huge chunks of land which are over-priced and consequently never developed? That leaves many spots in major cities that could be developed. Why does the Minister not do something about that land as well?

§ Mr. Trippier
It would be extremely difficult for us to do that. The hon. Gentleman should think about his suggestion. His back garden would be regarded as private land. Is he suggesting that the Government should register all pieces of private land? That would be unthinkable, and certainly impracticable.