HC Deb 19 December 1989 vol 164 cc177-8W
Dr. Cunningham

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will list the address and location of all freehold and leasehold farm and moorland holdings of the Duchy of Lancaster, showing the different categories, stating when first acquired by the duchy;

(2) if he will list the address, type and size of all freehold and leasehold property holdings of the Duchy of Lancaster, showing the different categories located in (a) Greater London, (b) Aldershot, (c) Bedford, (d) Bristol, (e) Kettering, (f) Leeds, (g) Leicester, (h) Lewes, (i) Northampton, (j) Hadley Wood and (k) Harrogate.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

[holding answer 7 December 1989]: It would be impractical to list the addresses and locations of all the property holdings of the Duchy of Lancaster as these would number several hundred items. However I hope that the following summary will be helpful.

The freehold farm and moorland properties owned by the Duchy or in which the Duchy has an interest are as follows:

Estates: Predominantly agricultural in nature in the following counties:
County Acreage (approx):
Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire 2,865
Staffordshire and Cheshire 12,350
Lancashire 10,920
Yorkshire 9,318
35,453

In addition, the Duchy owns some fifteen thousand acres of moorland in north Yorkshire and south Wales most of which are subject to common rights.

The estates include some 165 agricultural tenancies and 3,145 acres of woodland.

There are no leasehold ownerships in this category.

In all of the counties other than Cheshire ownership of part of the holdings can be established from 1267. Subsequent additions have been made.

In Cheshire, estates have been acquired over the last 50 or so years.

Other property ownership, all of which are freehold except for a long leasehold property in the City of London, may be summarised as follows:

  1. (a) Greater London The freehold of properties in the Manor of Savoy bounded by Lancaster Place, the Embankment, Savoy Hill and Strand (including the Savoy Chapel) and a building at 2/4 Lancaster Place to 137 Strand. A Substantial part of these properties are let on building lease or equivalent terms, having between twenty-nine and ninety years unexpired.
  2. Two office buildings, one freehold and one leasehold, are owned in the City of London, both are let on long leases without reviews.
  3. (b) Aldershot None.
  4. (c) Bedford One shop in High street.
  5. (d) Bristol None.
  6. (e) Kettering None.
  7. (f) Leeds None.
  8. (g) Leicester One shop in High street.
  9. (h) Lewes One shop in High street.
  10. (i) Northampton None.
  11. (j) Hadley Wood
    1. i. Twenty-six acres of land and twenty-nine cottages.
    2. ii. Two petrol filling stations (on long lease).
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  12. (k) Harrogate Miscellaneous commercial properties in Harrogate which include five shops, one hotel, and a house now converted to offices.

These properties, in the main, are let on occupational leases. There is also the remainder of a residential estate developed over a period of one-hundred years or so producing thirty-six ground rents. The freehold reversions are sold to the lessees on terms which follow the provisions of the Leasehold Reform Acts.