§ 9. Mr. Chris Mullin (Sunderland, South)If he will visit Sunderland to examine the effect of green-field development on the inner city; and if he will make a statement. [39513]
§ The Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning (Mr. Richard Caborn)Since my hon. Friend tabled this question, I have had the privilege of visiting Sunderland. On 30 April, I saw the scale of inner-city regeneration, and I understand that the city of Sunderland has allocated some 50 per cent. of proposed development for brown-field sites in its emerging unitary development plan, which is due to be adopted shortly.
§ Mr. MullinWe were very glad to see the Minister in Sunderland the other day, but there were one or two parts that he did not reach. Is he aware that in and near the centre of Sunderland we have acres of listed period property that are sliding towards dereliction, while all around us massive planning permissions are still being granted for housing on green-field sites? If we are serious about reversing this trend—I assume we are—Sunderland would be a good place to start. If the Minister would care to make another visit, I should be glad to give him on-the-spot guidance to the key areas.
§ Mr. CabornI am sure that my hon. Friend will acknowledge that the policies we are pursuing in drawing 554 up the unitary development plan were put in place by the previous Administration. My hon. Friend's local authority has now made some modifications and two green-field sites have been taken out, which would have been in line with the previous Government's policy had they still been in power. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the Government's policy is to make our cities and towns places where people like to work and play, unlike the previous Administration, who put everything on green-belt land.