§ Mr. FavellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution the urban development corporation in Liverpool has made to fighting urban decay.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Merseyside Development Corporation has made a significant contribution to fighting urban decay. The corporation was set up in 1981 to regenerate 865 acres of mostly derelict and disused docklands in the urban development area. To that end it has spent £186 million since its inception; 387 acres of land have been reclaimed; 2.3 million sq ft of buildings have been refurbished, including the Albert Dock, the largest collection of grade 1 listed buildings in the country; 259 business units have been provided, including the Brunswick business park in the South Docks where 0.5 million sq ft have been let; 2,500 jobs have been created,274W 1,100 safeguarded and on average 1,000 jobs every year have been generated by construction and related projects; 340 dwellings have been completed including the first phases of 240 residential flats provided by refurbishment and conversion schemes in partnership with the private sector at Albert Dock and Wapping Warehouse; £50 million of private sector investment has been secured so far and this is expected to double within the next year.
In November last year the designation order extending MDC's area came into effect. This will enable another 1,500 acres in Liverpool and Wirral to benefit from MDC's direct and determined approach.
More details of the Merseyside Development Corporation's activities are contained in its annual reports, copies of which are laid before Parliament