§ Mr. Wigginasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, in his consideration of the Avon county structure plan, he will take steps to reduce the total number of new houses planned for Woodspring; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what representations he has received proposing a reduction in the total number of new houses planned for Woodspring under the Avon county structure plan; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe provision and broad distribution of new housing in the Avon county structure plan are matters currently before my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Before my right hon. Friend approves the structure plan in its final form, the proposed policies relating to housing provision (including that in Woodspring) will be very carefully considered in the light of national planning policies; the submitted structure plan; the report of the panel which conducted the examination in public; and all the representations made on my right hon. Friends proposed modifications to the plan. A substantial number of representations on the proposed modifications were from those seeking a reduction in the proposed level of housing in Woodspring; but I must make it clear that my right hon. Friend's decision in relation to any one area can be only in the context of his consideration of the structure plan as a whole.
§ Mr. Wigginasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in his consideration of the Avon county structure plan, he will take steps to prevent further development of green field sites within the Woodspring district; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe actual location of housing development in Woodspring, as elsewhere, is in the first 119W instance for determination by the relevant local planning authority through the local plan process and planning control procedures, taking account of the broad guidance in the Avon county structure plan, when it is approved.
§ Mr. Wigginasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, in his consideration of the Avon county structure plan, he will take steps to ensure the development of land within the city of Bristol for housing purposes rather than green field sites in rural areas; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what steps he is taking to evaluate whether the draft Avon county structure plan complies with the guidance given in circular 15/84 regarding land use in existing urban areas; what conclusions he has reached; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe proposed level of housing development in Bristol, and other existing urban areas, in Avon will be considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State when he approves the county structure plan. In determining that level, my right hon. Friend will have regard to the need to make the fullest possible use of existing urban sites, in accordance with Government policy — including that set out in Department of the Environment Circular 15/84. The Avon structure plan, as submitted, made provision for 9,900 dwellings in the city of Bristol. My right hon. Friend accepted the view of the panel which conducted the examination in public that this provision was of the right order and represented a fair assessment of the land either available or likely to become available during the plan period. His proposed modification set the figure at 10,100.