§ Mr. William Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to release land for house building in Warwickshire.
§ Mr. Graham PageThe measures announced by my right hon. Friend on 27th April, like all those initiated by the Government since Circular 10/70, are designed to encourage and assist all local authorities, whose responsibility it is, to release land for housing.
In Warwickshire a full review has shown that about 2,200 acres of land are available for housing, of which 1,100 are available immediately. At the beginning of May Warwickshire County Council announced
new measures designed to stem escalating house prices by releasing more land for development";they are to adopt a "more flexible" approach to planning applications and to try to ensure that development in fact goes ahead. New sewage works, to be completed in 1973 will make land available near Warwick and Leamington, together with 50 acres in the commuter village of Balsall Common. Planning permissions ares to be given in advance of completion of the sewage works so that development can begin. On 23rd May Rugby Borough Council sold by auction 20 acres of land for residential development.