HC Deb 02 July 1979 vol 969 cc406-7W
Mr. Foster

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many advance nursery factory units have been (a) approved, and (b) constructed in the Northern region since 1974 (i) under the English Industrial Estates Corporation, (ii) under the local authorities, and (iii) under the new town development corporation.

Mr. David Mitchell

Since 1974, the English Estates Corporation has been authorised to construct 300 terraced units in 93 blocks, the majority in the past 2½ years. So far, 142 units in 37 blocks have been completed. A further 13,000m2 of terraced units has also been approved, for which the size and number of individual units is still to be determined.

Local authorities and new town development corporations are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES GRANTED AND REFUSED IN THE WEST MIDLANDS AND IN THE DUDLEY AND SANDWELL TRAVEL-TO-WORK AREA
Year Number of approvals Area ('000 square feet) Estimated additional employment
West midlands 1975 277 6,415 5,690
1976 281 9,958 11,880
1977 232 9,211 1,020
1978 261 8,447 10,430
January-March 1979 87 1,970 3,970
Total 1,138 36,001 32,990
Dudley and sandwell travel-to-work area. 1975 45 664 720
1976 48 1,145 890
1977 31 845 2,070
1978 26 607 720
January-March 1979 16 274 240
Total 166 3,535 4,640
Year Number of refusals Area ('000 square feet) Estimated additional employment
West Midlands 1975 6 316 660
1976 to date
(see Note 5)
Dudley and Sandwell travel-to-work area. 1975 to date
Notes:
1. Industrial development certificates are not required in development areas or special development areas. These include most of Scotland and Wales, the whole of the Northern Region, parts of the South-West, the North-West and the Yorkshire and Humberside Regions.
2. Exemption limits were altered in December 1970, July 1972, September 1974 and May 1976.
3. Buildings which have been converted for industrial use are also included in the table.
4. The figures for the estimated additional employment are the applicants' estimates of the employment expected to arise when projects are complete and fully manned.
5. One IDC was refused in the West Midlands in 1977, but an IDC was subsequently granted in1978 subject to certain conditions.