§ Baroness Nicolasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the role of English Partnerships in the proposed development in the inner Thames marshes site of special scientific interest at Havering Riverside (Rainham Marsh). [HL193]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty)The Havering riverside site is entirely in the ownership of the London Borough of Havering. The site is considered to be of strategic importance to employment generation within the Thames gateway area and is included within the unitary development plan prepared in 1993. English Partnerships is one of the partner organisations examining options for its possible development. The agency has provided funding to carry out site investigations, including an environmental assessment of the site. It has also funded an investment demand study for the site.
Following the London Borough of Havering's initial outline planning application for development in January 1997, English Partnerships submitted a further identical application in November 1997 in an attempt to deal with the issue of securing benefits for the development through a Section 106 agreement. The agency has no legal interest in the land.