HL Deb 21 June 1988 vol 498 cc603-5

2.55 p.m.

Lord Jay asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their policy towards the development of privately financed new towns in South-East England.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)

My Lords, our published policy guidance states that in a few cases it may be practicable to consider making provision for new housing in the form of new settlements, particularly where the development meets infrastructure costs and the need for community facilities. But we have also made clear that specific proposals by developers must be subject to normal planning procedures and must be considered within the framework of existing planning policies.

Lord Jay

My Lords, as the present pressure for new urban development in the South-East is largely the effect of the virtual abandonment of any regional and industrial policy by the present Government, is it not clear that with a continuously weak regional policy the building of one new town of this kind would simply be followed by a demand for more and more?

The Earl of Caithness

No, my Lords. I do not think that that follows. In any case the recent figures reveal that there has been an exodus from the South-East, not an influx into it.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, the Minister has referred to infrastructure costs being borne by the developer. Would he care to tell us what guidance he gives to local authorities on the appropriate level; otherwise the infrastructure costs could very well be seen to be more than just a sweetener?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I did not totally follow what the noble Lord was asking. What level is he referring to?

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, the Minister must be aware that certain developers enhance their applications within planning guidelines by offering to provide community, civic or other such amenities. I am simply asking the Minister what guidance he gives to authorities as regards the kind of control that they need to apply. Otherwise, some developers may be seen to be doing more than getting their planning applications through strictly on merit.

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, of course the planning application has to be considered on merit. The point that I made was that it might be possible to have new settlements where the infrastructure costs were met if there are additional items outwith the planning application for development (for example, housing development) which might be of benefit to the community. That will of course be for the local authority to decide.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, will the Minister convey to his right honourable friend the Secretary of State our sympathy, but our heavily qualified sympathy, for the political difficulty he has got himself into by his laissez faire attitude towards regional industrial and economic development? Does he net recognise that it is the failure of a real regional policy that is causing the overcrowding and the planning difficulties that have been discussed this afternoon?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the idea of sympathy from the noble Lord is always welcome. But I can assure him that the Government have very sensible policies and that is why there has been such a substantial reduction in the amount of agricultural land that has been taken for all kinds of development from the 1960s and 1970s to the present day. It is under a third of what it was in the 1960s and 1970s.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, is the Minister able to explain the recent wild fluctuations in the forecast demand for housing in the South-East of England?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I am not sure what fluctuations the noble Lord is referring to. However, those matters are considered very carefully, particularly as regards the South-East of England, where my noble friend Lord Sandford and SERPLAN are involved. Where changes have been made, as they were last week, that has been done as a result of further evidence from SERPLAN.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, is the Minister aware that about three weeks ago there was an increase of 150,000 which was cut back to 50,000 about one week ago?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I am sure the noble Lord knows that there were good reasons for that. As I have said, SERPLAN produced further evidence that there were likely to be more houses available by 1991 as a result of actions which have been taken by the Government, in particular in the private sector rental market, which should allow about 35,000 more dwellings to come on stream. I hope that, as a result, the noble Lord will support the Housing Bill.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, if the policies of the Government are always sensible, why is there complete confusion and consternation about the policies of the Minister's right honourable friend as regards the green belt and regional development generally?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I do not believe that there is any confusion as regards the green belt. When we came into office in 1979, the green belt consisted of 760,000 acres around London. It now consists of 1.2 million acres.

Lord Jay

My Lords, if there is an exodus of population from the South-East, does not that weaken the case for building more new towns there?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, at the moment all we have are two proposals.