§ Mr. Staintonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what details he has received from East Suffolk, West Suffolk and Ipswich county borough regarding land available for housing in terms of paragraph 12 of Command Paper No. 5280; what density requirements have been generally applied by these authorities to estate schemes; and 116W whether these correspond to his policy as to reasonable minimum densities referred to in paragraph 17 of Command Paper No. 5280.
§ Mr. ChannonOnly local planning authorities in the South East and the West Midlands have been asked to send to the Department copies of information on land availability which they publish under circular 102/72. No details were accordingly required to be sent to the Department by the local planning authorities for the areas mentioned.
Information for East Suffolk and part of West Suffolk has however now been published. I understand that Ipswich county borough will publish information by the end of the month; West Suffolk expects to publish information for the remainder of its area in the near future. Control over densities is primarily a matter for the local planning authorities, but I am sure they will have regard to the considerations outlined in the White Paper.
§ Mr. Staintonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number, size and scope of housing associations at present operating in East Suffolk, West Suffolk and Ipswich county borough, respectively, and of co-ownership schemes promoted by the Housing Corporation or otherwise.
§ Mr. ChannonDetailed information is not recorded by the Department, but the National Federation of Housing Societies and the Housing Corporation have provided the following information.
In East Suffolk four associations have provided 283 dwellings for employees of particular firms and old people and a further 12 are under construction for general needs. One co-ownership scheme of 34 dwellings has been completed and another of 33 dwellings is under construction.
In West Suffolk three associations have provided 65 dwellings for old people and general needs. There is one co-ownership scheme of 10 dwellings.
In Ipswich 11 associations have provided 123 dwellings for old people, the blind and general needs, and a self-build group has built nine for its own use. Two co-ownership schemes totalling 85 dwellings have been completed and two more 117W totalling 93 dwellings are under construction.
The co-ownership groups were all promoted by associations borrowing part of their capital from the Housing Corporation and part from building societies.