HC Deb 23 May 1972 vol 837 cc351-2W
68. Mr. Stainton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take to increase the number of new houses built in East Suffolk by encouraging an increase in the number of planning permissions taken up, in view of the fact that permissions involving 10,000 houses are outstanding.

Mr. Graham Page

The measures my right hon. Friend announced on 27th April are intended largely to ensure that land ripe for development is actually built upon. He is in addition arranging conferences with builders' representatives in East Anglia on 26th and 28th June, to identify areas of building land shortage where further study with all the local authorities concerned might be justified

69. Mr. Stainton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will institute forthwith legislation curtailing the validity of outline planning permissions to two years, detailed permissions to three years, and making all development projects subject to full liability for rating purposes on the expiry of 12 months from the granting of the planning permission on the basis of the assumed fulfilment thereof.

Mr. Graham Page

No. Suggestions of this kind were considered in the debate on land and houses, prices, on 27th April Authorities already have discretion to restrict the period of validity of a permission where there are planning reasons and I do not believe that compulsory restriction would materially accelerate development. On the second part of the Question I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ipswich (Mr. Money) on 19th April last.—[Vol. 835, c. 93.]