HC Deb 19 April 1995 vol 258 cc200-1
9. Ms Hoey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to help regenerate the area around Vauxhall Cross. [17913]

Sir Paul Beresford

As the hon. Lady is aware, regeneration is a co-operative activity and I look forward to receiving sensible proposals from Lambeth council, businesses in the area and other local organisations. It may also be helpful to her to know that I was minded to allow the appeal on the Effra site, subject to conditions and planning obligations.

Ms Hoey

I thank the Minister. Will he welcome the setting up of a Vauxhall employers group and the work that has initially been done on an SRB bid, or whatever the new name is, for the coming year for the Vauxhall Cross district? Will he also welcome the fact that one of the millennium fund bids will be for the recreation of the Vauxhall pleasure gardens in that district? Does he accept that the Vauxhall district, especially around that intersection between roads and railways, has a thriving local community and that anything he can do to bring together and support the partnership which now exists will be extremely welcome?

Sir Paul Beresford

I look forward to seeing those plans. I am intrigued, as an Edwardian historian has given me a description of the pleasure gardens which raises some rather interesting smirks and question marks.

Mr. Simon Hughes

Following the question asked by the hon. Member for Vauxhall (Ms Hoey), can the Minister confirm whether all planning applications for Vauxhall and along the riverside in central London are now as a matter of course brought in for review by his Department, as appears to have been the case in recent months?

Sir Paul Beresford

No, that is not so. It is selective.