§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an estimate of the number of outstanding planning permissions for housing development in Essex.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneMy Department does not regularly publish details of outstanding planning permissions, but it included in its evidence to the Environment Select Committee — first report of the Committee, 1983–4 Session, volume II—figures which show that, subject to the provision of infrastructure, there was sufficient land in Essex with outstanding planning permission for housing in 1982–3 to support average past building rates for about six years.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if it remains his' policy that green belt land has a positive planning role; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneGovernment policy on green belt is set out in DOE circular 14/84. This affirms the great importance which Government continue to attach to green belts, which have a broad and positive planning role.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether designated green belt land remains as such no matter what the condition of the land.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneDOE circular 14/84 makes it clear that the essential characteristic of green belts is their permanence and that, once the detailed boundaries have been fixed, they should not be amended, or development allowed, merely because the land has become derelict. It explains that some areas within the green belt can be 373W especially vulnerable to neglect or damage. Such areas may form an important part of the green belt and, if so, need to be protected and maintained.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give the total acreage of green belt land currently in the Greater London council area, and publish its location in the Official Report;
(2) if he will give the total acreage of green belt land currently in the Greater London council area for each year since 1978–79 to 1984–85.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneCalculations in 1975 estimated that about 34,000 hectares of land in Greater London were designated as green belt. More recent figures are not available. The general extent of the green belt is shown in the Greater London development plan, approved in 1976, and detailed boundaries are given in local plans.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report an estimate of (a) total acreage of green belt land in Essex and (b) total acreage of land designated for housing development in Essex.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneMy Department does not have the information on which to base such estimates.