§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total number of acres of derelict land created each year in England.
§ Mr. Graham PageBetween 1964 and 1970 the surveys showed an average annual increase of 1,685 acres in the land classified as derelict in England. But this is not a measure of the creation of new dereliction because it reflects new survey work by local authorities and substantial railway and colliery closures. These closures result in land which has long been despoiled being counted in the survey for the first time. Land temporarily affected by current mineral workings is not included because it will normally be subject to planning conditions requiring appropriate after treatment.
§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which region of the country has most derelict land where the acreage justifying treatment is expressed as a percentage of the total land area of the region, and what is the percentage.
§ Mr. Graham PageAccording to the last survey the North-West region had the highest proportion of derelict land justifying treatment in England. The proportion was 0.6 per cent. of its total land area.