§ Mr. SoleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect his consideration of the report by the housing consultants, Chapman Hendy Associates, on "Living Over the Shop", has had on the Government's policy on the living over the shop project.
§ Sir George Young[holding answer 1 February 1994]: In considering applications for funding under the Department's special grants programme, which was again this year oversubscribed, we took into account all supporting information provided. Unfortunately, the application by the living over the shop project was not successful. The project has previously received grants of £113,000 over three years from the Department and the Housing Corporation.
The Government remain committed to encouraging the use of empty residential space above shops. Some £10 million of supplementary credit approvals will be available to local authorities for 1994–95: bids amounting to about £40 million have been received and allocations will be announced shortly. In addition, the Housing Corporation will be supporting schemes by housing associations.