§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the result of the 1974 survey of derelict and despoiled land undertaken by local authorities in England.
§ Mr. OakesThe tabulated results of the survey are now being sent to local authorities and other interested bodies. They show that at 1st April 1974 the total area of derelict land in England was 43,273 hectares—nearly 107,000 acres.
The area considered to justify treatment was 33,068 hectares, an increase of some 7,000 hectares as compared with the 1971 survey. Most of this increase was the result of reappraisal by the new local authorities of the need for restoration, but there were also some added areas consequent upon rail, colliery and other closures, and the inclusion for the first time of some Services land.
Over the period from 1st January 1972 to 31st March 1974, 4,993 hectares, over 12,300 acres, of land were restored to beneficial use. This represents an annual average of 2,219 hectares compared with the total of 1,939 hectares reclaimed in 1971, which was the highest annual total up to that time.
For the first time the survey collected information about current mineral workings and refuse tips. The total area of land for which planning permission for mineral working had been given was 94,402 hectares, of which 49,076 hectares were in use in April 1974. About 78 per cent. of the total permitted area was subject to conditions requiring the restoration of the sites when working was completed, but there were 2,307 hectares of abandoned land where restoration was unfulfilled. 11,399 hectares of land were currently in use for refuse and industrial waste disposal, of which 8,440 hectares were subject to restoration conditions, and further permissions had been given for 2,876 hectares. There were 2,198 hectares of filled land which required further work to fit them for beneficial use.