§ Mrs. Lena Jegerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has concluded his consideration of London University's plans for the redevelopment of Woburn Square.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI had a discussion last week with representatives of the university. Planning permission for their redevelopment proposals was given in 1965 and plans are now at a very advanced stage. The University Grants Committee has allocated nearly £3½ million over the two years 1969–71 for these 27W proposals, and if the scheme were abandoned I understand that an estimated £600,000 would be payable for abortive expenditure alone. The terraces in Woburn Square are not on the statutory list of buildings of historic and architectural interest. My right hon. Friend has concluded that he should not intervene to frustrate the proposals at this very late stage by listing them.
He is, however, urgently reviewing the listing of buildings elsewhere in the university precinct and in Bloomsbury generally so that full account can be taken of their architectural and historic interest in deciding any future proposals for development in these areas.
Description of grant Local authorities in Lancashire Local authorities in Lancashire remainder of England and Wales 1967–68 1967–1968 Total paid Paid per capita Total paid Paid per capita (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) £'000 s. d. £'000 s. d. Land drainage grants … 11 0 0½ 212 0 1 Smallholdings grants … 11 0 0½ 707 0 4 Grants for wholesale horticultural markets … 179 0 8 131 0 1 Grants for emergency feeding arrangements … 18 0 1 407 0 2 Total payments 219 0 10 1,457 0 8 Notes: (1) The local authorities included in the table are county councils, county borough councils and district councils. (2) It is impracticable to seggregate payments under the agricultural support arrangements in respect of local authorities' agricultural holdings.