HC Deb 25 March 1970 vol 798 cc446-7W
Mr. Ronald Atkins

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now announce his decision on the new town for central Lancashire.

Mr. Greenwood

On 18th December, 1968, I informed the House that in the Government's view a large new town in Central Lancashire is required as part of their regional strategy for the North West in order to act as a strong growth point in Lancashire's economic revival and to make provision for long term overspill requirements and the region's population growth. At the same time, I announced various measures to help North-East Lancashire. All these matters have been carried forward.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has received the report of the study which he commissioned the Lancashire County Council to carry out on the provision of an improved road link between the Calder Valley and the M6, and will make an announcement shortly.

Secondly, I have commissioned consultants to prepare pilot schemes of urban renewal in north-east Lancashire; their work is well advanced and the process of public participation has begun. Thirdly, the three local planning authorities have agreed together on arrangements for the preparation of a new plan for north-east Lancashire and the leader of the planning team has been appointed. In addition, a major part of north-east Lancashire has now been specified as an intermediate area under the Local Employment Act 1970, and on 18th March my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Technology, announced that three Government advance factories had been authorised in Altham, Rossendale and Nelson and Colne.

Finally, a public local inquiry has been held with respect to objections to the draft designation order for the new town and I have carefully considered the inspector's report.

I have decided to make a final designation order and have informed the objectors and local authorities. In the light of the inspector's report, I propose to exclude a substantial part of what is known as the Longridge Spur. As a result, the parishes of Hothersall and Ribchester, the whole of Longridge urban district and the areas around Whittingham Hospital will lie outside the new town.

So, too, will almost all the land in this area, including the floor and escarpments of the Ribble Valley, which is classified in the County Development Plan as being of great landscape, historic and scientific interest.

The site which I shall now designate includes Preston, most of Leyland and Chorley, and, with other minor boundary adjustments, amounts to about 35,225 acres. In my view, this will be sufficient to accommodate a total population of about 430,000 and permit a planned immigration of about 120,000 over about two decades.

With this decision to go forward with the Central Lancashire New Town, the Government have now made final decisions on all their major proposals for new development in England under the New Towns Act.