HL Deb 17 June 1985 vol 465 cc6-8

2.49 p.m.

Lord Nugent of Guildford

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many new houses have been built by the London Dockland Development Corporation, how many have been sold for owner-occupation, and how many of the new occupiers are previous residents in the dockland area.

Lord Elton

My Lords, may I remind my noble friend that the Answer to his Question is as follows? A total of 1,810 units have now been completed on these sites. Of those 1,492 are for owner-occupation Forty-two per cent. of the new occupiers previously lived within the three dockland boroughs.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, can the Minister say—

Noble Lords

Order!

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, I am sorry.

Lord Nugent of Guildford

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble and learned Lord. I am sure he will have his opportunity to speak in a minute. I should like to thank my noble friend for repeating that piece of very good news. Is he aware that the total number of houses built there makes a substantial contribution to London's housing needs? However, is he also aware that the very large number of houses, nearly 1,500, in that particular area which are now owner-occupied is a novelty, an innovation, which is tremendously welcome in that area for the prospects of new businesses, of which there will be so many more? Is he also aware that a large number of dwellings, about 42 per cent., are occupied by local people who have never had a chance to buy their own houses before? In enabling them to do that, the Government have done something for which they are to be most warmly congratulated.

Lord Elton

My Lords, I am grateful for my noble friend's question. When the corporation was established in July 1981, the level of owner-occupation among the total population of its area was 5 per cent. The present level is 15 per cent. The corporation's target is to bring it up to at least 30 per cent., which is, I may add, the average for inner London.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, I apologise for former constituency zeal leading me somewhat astray. Can the noble Lord say how much reasonably priced rental accommodation has been made available in the new developments for the citizens of the area? Did not the House of Lords Select Committee stress that the real need was for the provision of publicly rented small houses? Is not that necessity being overlooked in the undoubted desirablility for some owner-occupied accommodation being available?

Lord Elton

My Lords, some 410 units have so far been provided for rent on both the LDCC and privately owned land: 335 units through housing associations, and 75 through council schemes.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, is the noble Lord the Minister aware that some of the most expensive housing in London is that which fronts on to the river? Yet, when one travels downstream from Tower Pier, one sees that most of the premises on the banks of the river are industrial or warehouse in their use. Can the London Docklands Development Corporation not take a significant initiative in making more of the river bank available for housing, whether owner-occupied or rented? Will the Government press it to do so?

Lord Elton

My Lords, of course there are a number of well-known schemes for developing warehouses for residential purposes. However, I shall bring the noble Lord's remarks to notice in the proper quarter.

Lord Nugent of Guildford

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the major part of these housing schemes is comprised of small, relatively inexpensive houses? Is he aware that I have visited some of them? It is true that I have not been there for about 18 months to two years but their price range was between £20,000 and £30,000. This does not seem to me to be an excessively high price for a house in London. Is my noble friend aware that the noble Lord opposite has quite the wrong impression and should go and have a look at the development?

Lord Elton

My Lords, I see that the noble and learned Lord would like to answer for himself. I am not in a position to complain about the order of business at all; but if I can anticipate him, the corporation intends there to be a proportion of dwellings on each site to be sold at or below £40,000. The proportion varies according to the land value of the site. Where the land value is very high, it is the corporation's policy to arrange equity-sharing schemes wherever possible. This makes a lot of housing affordable.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, I shall endeavour not to be taunted by what the noble Lord, Lord Nugent, has said, since I had the honour to represent the area for 29 years. I know it well and still maintain a close connection with it. However, what the noble Lord the Minister has not answered is this. Why has not sufficient regard been paid to the recommendation and view of the Select Committee of this House that the real need was for the provision of publicly-rented accommodation?

Lord Elton

My Lords, I think that the noble and learned Lord's assumptions are open to question. There is a proportion of affordable rented accommodation available. As always, I shall draw his remarks to the attention of my right honourable friend.

Lord Nugent of Guildford

My Lords, on a personal note, is my noble friend aware that my comment was not directed to the noble and learned Lord on the Front Bench but was directed to the noble Lord sitting behind him, who had referred to the highly expensive housing, which of course is not typical of this scheme?

Lord Swinfen

My Lords, can my noble friend tell me what proportion of these new houses has been designed specifically for physically disabled people?

Lord Elton

My Lords, not without notice. However, it is a perfectly proper question and I shall put the answer in the Library.