HC Deb 25 February 1981 vol 999 c407W
Mr. Cormack

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest population target estimates for Telford new town prepared by his Department; what is the calculation on which these are based; and what other estimates have been communicated to him by Shropshire county council.

Mr. Stanley

In his statement on 4 February on the future of the third generation new towns my right hon. Friend indicated that by the late 1980s the population of Telford was likely to be of the order of 130,000. This is not a target. The level reached will depend essentially on the rate of demand for private housebuilding and of private sector investment. I understand that in monitoring its county structure plan the Shropshire county council has suggested that by 1991 the population of Telford will be between 121,000, based on an estimate of recent trends, and 140,000, based on previous targets.

Mr. Cormack

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the study examining options for a range of target populations and their implications carried out by Telford development corporation in 1977 as part of the review of new towns conducted by his predecessor.

Mr. Stanley

Yes.