HC Deb 31 March 1998 vol 309 cc490-1W
14. Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to combat urban sprawl. [35456]

Mr. Caborn

The Government expect local authorities to be able to raise the national proportion of new homes to be built on previously developed land, including conversions of existing buildings, to 60 per cent. over the next 10 years. We also expect the regional conferences of local authorities to bring forward regional recycling targets. In addition, we have reaffirmed our commitment to national planning policies which discourage urban sprawl, such as those on Green Belts, the protection of the countryside, town centres and the pursuit of sustainable patterns of development.