§ Mr. Matherasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the two schemes submitted by the Property Services Agency for the development of metropolitan green belt land between Chessington and Ruxley Crescent, Claygate, for 350 married soldiers' quarters.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownI have been asked to reply.
In accordance with the normal procedures for consultation with planning authorities on development by Government Departments, as set out in DOE Circular 80/71, my Department recently submitted to the Royal borough of Kingston a notice of proposed development in respect of up to 350 married quarters for Army personnel stationed in London to be constructed on land belonging to the Ministry of Defence at RAF Chessington. The Property Services Agency is acting as agents for my Department in this matter. Following informal consultation with planning officers of the Royal borough of Kingston, we submitted a revised scheme which would allow for 25W the retention of a hangar which is currently used as a sports centre. The Royal borough of Kingston has now decided to register an objection to these proposals on the grounds that they would infringe the metropolitan green belt.
These proposals will not therefore be pursued without reference to the Department of the Environment in accordance with the appeal procedure prescribed in paragraphs 13 and 14 of DOE Circular 80/71. No decision has yet been taken as to whether my Department will appeal in this way.