§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) the house building requirements imposed by his Department in each county authority for the period 1991 to 2006 and (b) the environmental constraints which have affected the requirement downwards; what considerations determine the house building requirement (i) nationally and (ii) regionally; and what assessments he makes of the infrastructure required to support such a building requirement.
§ Mr. Robert B. Jones[holding answer 27 February 1995]: The proposed provision of additional housing for each county in England is set out in "Regional and Strategic Planning Guidance". The figures for each county are shown in the table.
National population projections are provided by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in consultation with local authorities. The Department of the Environment produces household projections for counties, and the metropolitan boroughs, which are adjusted to be consistent with national totals. The proposed regional dwelling provision is based on the household projections, and take into account factors such as the need for house replacement, vacancy rates, second homes, and tied accommodation.
Regional conferences of local authorities are consulted on the distribution of the regional figures. In considering the figures they are required to take national planning and environmental policies into account, as well as local circumstances and constraints.
472WThe figures in regional planning guidance are then tested through the structure plan process, and subject to scrutiny through an examination in public. This enables the figures to be refined in the light of local circumstances.
Infrastructure requirements should be considered at the regional, county, and local level according to the size and strategic nature of proposed developments.
473W
Proposed regional level dwelling provision for counties in England (Figures are annual averages for the period stated, and are taken from "Regional or Strategic Planning Guidance" unless otherwise stated.) Number East Midlands region—1991 to 2011 Derbyshire 3,250 Leicestershire 3,500 Lincolnshire 3,400 Northamptonshire 3,500 Nottinghamshire 3,250 Eastern region—1986 to 2006 Cambridgeshire 3,700 Norfolk 3,450 Suffolk 3,100 Northern region—1991 to 2006 Cleveland 933 Durham 1,400 Northumberland 1,033 Tyne and Wear Metropolitan area SPG1 2,315 South East region—1991 to 2006 Bedfordshire 2,467 Berkshire 2,667 Buckinghamshire 3,267 East Sussex 2,333 Essex 5,333 Hampshire 6,133 Hertfordshire 3,333 Isle of Wight 533 Kent 5,800 Oxfordshire 2,467 Surrey 2,400 West Sussex 2,933 London Metropolitan area 1,155 South West region—1991 to 2011 Avon 2,950 Cornwall 2,250 Devon 4,950 Dorset 3,150 Gloucester 2,650 Somerset 2,500 Wiltshire 3,450 West Midlands region 1991–2011 (consultation draft figures) Hereford and Worcester 2,500 Shropshire 2,150 Staffordshire 2,850 Warwickshire 1,750 West Midlands (Metropolitan area) 5,000 Yorkshire and Humberside region 1991–2006 (consultation draft figures) Humberside 3,500 North Yorkshire 3,000 South Yorkshire (Metropolitan area) 3,400 West Yorkshire (Metropolitan area) 6,700
Number North West region(draft RPG forthcoming—figures are for time scales as detailed) Cheshire structure plan (1986–2001) 3,933 Cumbria structure plan (1981–1996) 1.573 Further proposed modifications (1991–2006) 1,833 Lancashire structure plan (1986–1996) 4,120 Deposit replacement plan (1991–2006) 4,403 Merseyside SPG, 1986–2001 (Metropolitan area) 3,303 Greater Manchester SPG, 1986 to 2001 (Metropolitan area) 4,000 1 1988 to 2001 (1) Includes NHS. The 1989 and 1991 figures include empty bed-spaces in hostels.
(2) Includes the Prison Service and Metropolitan and provincial police authorities.
(3) Excludes dwellings awaiting demolition or conversion to non-residential use.