§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has made any assessment of the impact on employment of the work of the Leeds development corporation.
§ Mr. KeyBetween June 1988 and March 1990, 5,241 permanent jobs were created in Leeds Development Corporation's area with a further 885 expected in the year to 31 March 1991. This is a significant contribution towards employment opportunities in Leeds.
§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total funding for each financial year of the Leeds development corporation.
§ Mr. KeyThe amount of grant in aid provided to Leeds development corporation was £2.743 million in 1988–89 and £8.75 million in 1989–90; £14 million is available in 1990–91 and £12 million in 1991–92.
§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the record of the Leeds development corporation.
§ Mr. KeySince designation in June 1988, Leeds development corporation has made excellent progress in stimulating the regeneration of its area. By the end of this financial year more than 1.5 million square feet of industrial and commercial floor space will have been completed or be in the course of construction, creating over 1,700 construction and 6,100 permanent jobs. Further planning permissions have been granted for developments totalling 2.5 million square feet.
The corporation has published planning frameworks for eight of its fourteen sub-areas. The remaining six will be available by June. Major road improvement works have been completed to open up the proposed new 50 acre Hunslet business park which will provide accommodation for new businesses and allow existing firms to expand. Developers have been selected for three major joint development competitions with Leeds city council, British Waterways and British Gas for key inner city sites. The proposed developments include housing, community, leisure, industrial and commercial uses. The corporation 283W places a high priority on minimising disruption to existing businesses and assisting with relocation. Two major relocation sites totalling 32 hectares have been acquired are being serviced.
Assistance to businesses is being provided under various grant schemes. Six city grants, five sites and property grants and twenty environmental improvement grants have been offered. The corporation's community sponsorship grant scheme is also proving popular with nineteen grants having been taken up.
In the Calls conservation area, sensitive new developments and pedestrian thoroughfares are linking the city centre with the riverside, where new developments are taking place alongside existing buildings for which new uses are being found. The corporation is working closely with Leeds city council, British Waterways and the Leeds-Bradford city action team to enhance the potential of the River Aire and the Leeds-Liverpool canal. At these and other gateway sites, 28 environmental improvement schemes involving nearly 100,000 sq m of planting/ landscaping, stonecleaning of walls and bridges, repairs and re-paving works have been implemented.
Leeds development corporation is to be congratulated on its achievements to date and the efforts it is making to ensure progress is maintained.
§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the projects assisted with financial support by the Leeds development corporation.
§ Mr. KeyBetween designation in 1988 and January 1991 Leeds development corporation has provided financial support for projects as set out in the following table:
£'000s Environmental and landscaping works 2,125 Land assembly including acquisitions for relocation of displaced business 11,744 Site servicing 1,588 City grant schemes 839 Industrial sites/property improvement grants 123 Community sponsorship grants 19 Highways 730