§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Industry what regulations prohibit reconstruction of factory buildings in Greater London which provide equivalent or less manufacturing space than the buildings they replace; and if he will consider introducing a scheme of replacement industrial development certificates to apply to such schemes.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieThe erection of industrial buildings of all kinds in London, as elsewhere in England and Wales, is subject to the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, particularly Section 23 as to planning permission and Section 67 as to industrial development certificates. Proposals for speculative industrial developments raise special problems in relation to the operation of the IDC control. I am considering whether it would be reasonable, bearing in mind the interests of the assisted areas, to allow the issue of IDCs for a limited range of speculative replacement industrial building outside the assisted areas.