§ Mr. Haselhurstasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the types and rates of grants available to the Borough of Middleton in respect of dereliction and other matters affecting environmental improvement.
§ Mr. Graham PageFollowing is the in formation:
Derelict Land: Section 20 of the Industrial Development Act, 1966 as extended by Section 2 of the Local Employment Act 1970. Grants are payable at the rate of 75 per cent. towards the loss incurred on approved expenditure by the local authority for the acquisition and reclamation of derelict land.
Comprehensive Development Areas: Section 7, Local Government Act, 1966, 50 per cent. grants towards annual loan charges referable to the loss incurred by the local authority on approved expenditure on the acquisition, clearance and preliminary development of land which requires to be redeveloped to deal with conditions of extensive war damage, bad layout or obsolete development.
Public Open Space: Section 8, Local Government Act, 1966. 50 per cent. grants towards annual loan charges referable to approved expenditure incurred by the local authority on acquisition of land for public open space.
House Improvement: Housing Act, 1969:
(i) The council can make house improvement grants to private owners of half the approved cost of improvements within certain limits. There are three types of grants:
- (a) Discretionary grants are for improving existing dwellings to a high standard or for converting
196 properties into flats—the normal maximum grant is £1,000 (or £1,200 for each flat produced by the conversion of a three or more storey building). - (b) Standard grants are for providing certain standard amenities in existing dwellings. The normal maximum grant is £200 but can be £450 in some circumstances.
- (c) Special grants are for providing basic amenities for the overall benefit of houses in multiple occupation. The maximum is the same as the normal maximum for standard grants.
The council receives a Government contribution payable for 20 years of three quarters of the annual loan charges on the grants to private owners.
(ii) The council also receive Government contributions on the same basis for the improvement of their own houses, with the addition that the cost of acquisition may be included; in that event the maximum allowable cost on which the contribution is based (allowable cost is half the approved cost) is £1,250.
(iii) Government contribution is payable towards the expenditure incurred by the council in carrying out works or in providing land in declared general improvement areas in order to improve the environment of the area. This is payable for 20 years and is equivalent to one half of the annual loan charges on approved expenditure subject to a maximum of £100 per dwelling in the area.