HC Deb 08 March 1972 vol 832 c312W
33. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the reason for the increase in the cost of resiting defence establishments at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, from a first estimate of £3,350,000 to a final estimate of £8,300,000.

Mr. Amery

There were many reasons as the Comptroller and Auditor General's report shows. As the G.L.C. required land to be released for housing urgently, this left insufficient time for preplanning and the first estimate was necessarily very rough. Considerable problems were encountered in site conditions, in the rehabilitation of old buildings, and in working while buildings were occupied.