HC Deb 21 December 1965 vol 722 cc387-9W
Mr. Boardman

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the results of the survey of derelict land in England carried out by local authorities in response to Circular No. 55/64; and whether he will make grants available to these authorities for the clearance of derelict sites.

DERELICT LAND
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CIRCULAR NO. 55/64
Summary of Returns for England Derelict Land at 31.12.64
Counties (including County Boroughs) Total acreage Proportion of total acreage justifying treatment Acreage restored in 1964 Acreage proposed for restoration in 1965
Cheshire 932 612 27 42
Derbyshire (High Peak) 330 207 15 1
Lancashire 11,522 8,634 404 507
North West Region 12,784 9,453 446 550
Cumberland 2,317 1,438 40
Durham 8,710 5,697 203 872
Northumberland 7,431 5,062 32 453
Yorkshire—North Riding 1,333 1,077 23 123
Westmorland 31 17
Northern Region 19,822 13,291 258 1,488
Lincolnshire—Lindsey 2,863 1,470
Yorkshire—East Riding 622 379 14
Yorkshire—West Riding 6,248 3,811 113 221
Yorkshire and Humberside Region 9,733 5,660 127 221
Derbyshire (excluding High Peak) 1,913 1,687 18 168
Leicestershire 1,398 559 30 31
Lincolnshire—Holland 5 1 1 1
Lincolnshire—Kesteven 1,021 36
Northamptonshire 247 247 51 17
Nottinghamshire 1,443 1,295 15 61
Rutland 115 74 1 2
East Midlands Region 6,142 3,899 116 280
Herefordshire 16
Shropshire 1,429 1,364 4 2
Staffordshire 9,052 8,256 724 503
Warwickshire 931 536 125 59
Worcestershire 862 835 40
West Midlands Region 12,290 10,991 853 604
Cornwall 14,284 1,875 17
Devon 235 230 45 109
Dorset 10
Gloucestershire 184 43 40 33
Isles of Scilly
Somerset 1,034 484 1 8
Wiltshire 295 131
South West Region 16,042 2,763 86 167

Mr. Crossman

The results of the survey for each county including county boroughs are summarised in the following table. This shows that about 51,000 acres of derelict land were judged by the local authorities to be in need of treatment at 31st December, 1964, of which they proposed to restore about 3,500 acres in 1965. As I have already told my hon. Friend, I consider that a much higher rate of clearance is required, and I hope to be able to make grant available for this purpose.

Counties (including County Boroughs) Total acreage Proportion of total acreage justifying treatment Acreage restored in 1964 Acreage proposed for restoration in 1965
Bedfordshire 419 399 23 58
Berkshire 63 63 37 34
Buckinghamshire 631 250 2 14
Cambridgeshire 198
Ely—Isle of 348 59 4
Essex 444 301 3 20
Hampshire 222 101 21
Hertfordshire 15 3
Huntingdonshire 199 3 3 1
Kent 1,023 486 26 9
London 1 1
Middlesex 12 1
Norfolk 1,739 1,546 14 72
Oxfordshire 1,749 1,250 24 3
Peterborough—Soke of 221
Suffolk—East 92 92 14 7
Suffolk—West 173 173 7 4
Surrey 134 110 5
Sussex—East 99 39
Sussex—West 180 135 9 3
Wight—Isle of 125 125
South Eastern England 8,087 5,134 190 230
National totals 84,900 51,191 2,076 3,540

Forward to