§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he aims to submit formal planning applications to the Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council in regard to the proposed redevelopment of sites in Kensington for the new Russian Embassy buildings; and what consultations he will hold before the plans are finalised for the purpose of the applications.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI would draw the hon. Members' attention to Circular DOE 7/77 of 14th February 1977, which governs the notification of applications of this nature. It is still too early to say when action under these procedures will commence. I will consider what consultations may be appropriate before the plans are notified. However, as has been made clear before, once the plans have been notified they will become subject to full public consultation.
§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now list the buildings in Kensington which would have to be demolished to make way for the developments currently under consideration by the British and Soviet architects advising the Soviet Government on their proposed new embassy buildings.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe Soviet Government's proposals envisage the possibility of developing two sites—Nos. 1–7 Kensington Palace Gardens, and the old Kensington Barracks site—and of retaining another, the Ambassador's existing house at No. 13 Kensington Palace Gardens. No firm plans have yet been agreed for submission to the planning authorities, but the architects concerned are aware that Nos. 6–7 Kensington Palace Gardens contain a listed building and that Nos. 4–5 are in a conservation area. Her Majesty's Government will ensure that account is taken of these facts in any plans which they eventually decide to put forward for planning approval on behalf of the Soviet Government.
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§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total number of people it is intended to accommodate for official business, residential and other purposes, on the sites in Kensington now under consideration for redevelopment for the Russian Embassy.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI would draw the hon. Member's attention to the answer I gave him on 25th January 1978.—[Vol. 942, c.676–7.]—The application for planning permission is not yet in final form, and it is, therefore, not possible to say for what accommodation it will provide.
§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the area in acres of the site now proposed for the new British Embassy in Moscow; what is the volume in cubic feet of the buildings it is proposed to occupy on the site; and how many people it is intended they should accommodate.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25th January 1978.—[Vol. 942, c.676–7.]
Her Majesty's Government's requirement in Moscow are still under consideration. The staff is expected to remain at about its present level, but there has for some time been a need for improved Working and living accommodation. Our tentative plans envisage a site area corresponding approximately to that under consideration for Soviet Embassy development in London.