§ Mr. EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many houses purchased by the Department of Transport to accommodate the building of the East London River Crossing are still required by the Highways Agency; and what progress has been made by the Highways Agency in disposing of properties purchased for this function. [39465]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonI have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Clive Efford, dated 5 May 1998:
The Minister for Transport in London has asked me to reply to your recent question about houses purchased by the Department in connection with the East London River Crossing.None of the 164 houses purchased by the Department for the East London River Crossing are now required by the Highways Agency. 154 remain in our ownership and are to be sold. An active sales programme is well underway.We are working closely with the London Borough of Greenwich as the main local housing authority and are looking to sell a substantial number of our properties to housing associations working with them. A few properties are also likely to be sold to the London Borough of Bexley, and a further small number of tenants are looking to buy their properties themselves.