§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the potential for building new housing developments on brown-field sites; and if he will make a statement. [45880]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsPlanning Guidance (Wales): Planning Policy, May 1996, makes clear that it is for local planning authorities to take account of the scope and potential for rehabilitation, conversion, clearance and redevelopment of land in their areas. In particular, local authorities should take account of the contribution reclaimable or reclaimed urban land can make to the overall provision of land for housing. Local authorities are able to identify suitable sites through the development548W plan process. The joint Housing Land Availability Studies co-ordinated and published by the Land Authority for Wales can help identify such sites.
We are also encouraging registered social landlords to build more of their developments on brownfield sites. Such schemes are being encouraged by Tai Cymru in the form of a 50 per cent. grant towards the cost of technical site investigations.