§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now issue a circular advising local authorities to demolish only dwellings which cannot be brought up to modern standards, and advising them to avoid further large-scale clearance programmes.
§ Mr. FreesonThe Government's policy on housing renewal has been stated emphatically in successive circulars, and 289W local authorities should need no further clarification on this point. DOE Circular 160/74, issued on 26th November 1974, advised local authorities that rundown residential areas should benefit from a careful mixture and phasing of redevelopment and rehabilitation resulting in gradual urban renewal over the years rather than massive bull-dozing and rebuilding. This approach was underlined in DOE Circular 13/75 on Renewal Strategies, issued on 21st January 1975, which urged local authorities, wherever possible, to avoid programmes of widespread redevelopment.