HC Deb 14 November 1973 vol 864 cc147-8W
37. Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what new policies he is able to announce to make land more readily available for development by the inner London housing authorities.

Mr. Rippon

The Government's policy of securing the release for housing of surplus land held by Government Departments and the nationalised industries has been of considerable assistance to inner London authorities. I have invited the chairmen of the various essential public services in London to consider, with the Chairman of the Housing Corporation, the possibility of releasing further underutilised land for the benefit of their employees as well as London as a whole.

40. Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made towards the redevelopment of disused dockland areas to provide more housing in London.

Mr. Rippon

Three sites in the Dockland Surrey Area were released last year Design work for dwellings on these to accommodate about 5,000 people is in progress. A public participation exercise on how the docklands should be redeveloped was held this year and the views of the local people and their local authorities are now being considered by the Greater London Council. Further progress on the planning of the redevelopment of the area should be made in the New Year. I recently met representatives of the Greater London Council and the five boroughs concerned to discuss the machinery for securing the best redevelopment of the area. I hope that another meeting can be held very soon.