§ 2.34 p.m.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy 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 if they will state whether local planning authorities such as the London County Council are correct in assuming from the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, and its Schedule and regulations, that if they do not allow a developer to put the same cubic content of accommodation back on any site, plus 10 per cent., they are liable to pay compensation, and whether this is not having a most material effect on new developments to-day.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD HASTINGS)My Lords, this is an extremely complicated matter, representing only part of the whole office problem, and I would ask the noble Lord to wait for the general statement which my right honourable friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government has promised to make very soon.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that Answer, may I ask whether he is aware that in former years floor heights were approximately 12 feet from floor to floor, whereas to-day they are only about 10 feet from floor to floor? This means that the capacity or accommodation which developers can get on the average site is about 32 per cent. more than it used to be. Does my noble friend realise the effect that this has on traffic and other matters, such as congestion in our cities?
§ LORD HASTINGSYes, my Lords, my right honourable friend is aware of that factor, and it is, of course, an added complication.
§ LORD BOSSOMI am obliged to my noble friend.