§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the amount of derelict industrial land now available for reclamation; and what plans exist to reclaim it.
§ Sir George YoungThe 1982 survey of derelict land showed that there were 45,700 hectares of derelict land in England, of which 34,300 were considered by local authorities to justify reclamation. This year £82 million is available to reclaim derelict land compared with £23.5 million in 1979–80. Priority is given to schemes designed to reclaim urban land for an industrial, commercial or private housing end use.
§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to encourage private firms to reclaim derelict industrial land; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungGrant is available to private firms to reclaim derelict land. In assisted areas and derelict land clearance areas derelict land grant is paid at the rate of 80 per cent. of the net loss incurred; in other areas it is 50 per cent. Demand from the private sector remains high and the resources made available have more than doubled in the last two years to £5 million in 1985–86.