HC Deb 12 July 1984 vol 63 cc621-2W
Ms. Harman

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what will be the eventual tenure split for new housing built on London Docklands Development Corporation-owned land in Southwark; what proportion wil be for sale; and what the prices are likely to be;

(2) what proportion of the houses and flats that the London Docklands Corporation expects to see developed in Greenland dock will be for sale; and what will be the prices of these houses and flats.

Sir George Young

I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 29 February 1984, at column233, in which I pointed out that the eventual percentage of the different tenures cannot be estimated at this stage. The proportions will depend partly upon the attitude of Southwark council and partly upon the resources which the Housing Corporation is able to devote to the area.

A start has been made on LDDC owned sites containing 770 dwellings, in Southwark; 18.2 per cent. are for rent, 0.6 per cent. for shared ownership and 81.2 per cent. for sale. Selling prices currently range from £25,000 to £75,000, with 66 per cent. of dwellings priced at less than £40,000.

The LDDC has yet to sign agreements to release land in Greenland dock for housebuilding. The corporation expects that the first agreement will be for a development of 152 dwellings for sale and that these will be priced in the range of £29,750 to £72,500, with 38 per cent. at or below £35,000.

Ms. Harman

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the London Docklands Development Corporation has decided that the existing jobs at Greenland dock are incompatible with its plans for the dock.

Sir George Young

A high proportion of the existing jobs are or were in waste transfer, road haulage and other yard and open storage businesses with a low density of jobs per acre. Relocation of the firms from land owned by LDDC is nearing completion. It seems unlikely to cause any loss of jobs and will release land for development. LDDC's proposals for the site, including land in other ownerships, are intended to generate employment in industrial and commercial developments and about 1,250 dwellings will also be built on the site. LDDC believes that the operation of the existing businesses would be incompatible with housing on environmental grounds.