§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent they are aware of the planning policy of the London County Council, under which residential accommodation in central London is being demolished to make way for office blocks.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL WALDEGRAVE)My Lords, the policy of the London County Council, approved by my right honourable friend 993 the Minister of Housing and Local Government, is the opposite of what the noble Lord suggests. It is to preserve residential uses wherever possible and to curb excessive office building. This policy does not mean that there should be no offices at all in central London, but that each case will be looked at on its merits within the London County Council's broad policy. In amendments to the Development Plan, which have been submitted to my right honourable friend, a further strengthening of this policy is proposed.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Earl for his reply, but I would put one question to him. Do Her Majesty's Government think it right that a block of buildings in Percy Street, Tottenham Court Road, which contains some good residential accommodation, should be pulled down, as it is now proposed, and replaced by a ten-storey office block?
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, the noble Lord was good enough to warn me that he might raise this particular case; therefore I am able to inform him that although, as he knows, negotiations have been taking place for several years past about the development of this site in Percy Street, planning permission has not yet been granted for any development. If and when any planning permission is granted, of course, it will fall within the policy I have outlined in my answer to the noble Lord's first Question.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, would the noble Earl explain why, if the policy of the London County Council is to favour residential accommodation rather than office accommodation, this policy has not been effective and whether Her Majesty's Government take some responsibility for that?
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, I should not agree that the policy has not been effective, but no doubt the policy now needs strengthening; and, as I have already said, there are proposals of amendments to the Development Plan which would have the effect of strengthening the policy, in detail and in general. Those proposals are at the moment under consideration between the London County Council and my right honourable friend.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his answer. Do we understand that the policy of Her Majesty's Government is now to be strengthened by the policy of the London County Council? If so, it will give great satisfaction on these Benches.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl a further question? Supposing this building is pulled down, can the noble Earl assure the House that there will be sufficient accommodation for parking and garaging the cars of people using these offices in this already very overcrowded part of London?
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, of course I cannot give the noble Lord any assurance on that point, but I can say that provision of parking accommodation for cars when new blocks of offices are put up is normally made in the plans. I believe that the standard rate is one car space for every 2,000 square feet of office space in new buildings.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for this reply.