HC Deb 30 October 1985 vol 84 cc532-3W
Mr. Mikardo

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to ensure that the nature, merits, and impact on life in east London and on strategic planning in Greater London of the proposals to construct a major financial centre of 10 million sq ft on 70 acres of Canary wharf in the enterprise zone on the Isle of Dogs are given some form of statutory public scrutiny prior to the effective decision being taken to proceed with the project.

Sir George Young

I shall write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Mikardo

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the date when the London Docklands development corporation is expected to give, or has already given, its consent in principle for the creation of a 10 million sq ft financial centre on Canary wharf in the enterprise zone on the Isle of Dogs; what further negative or positive decisions will need to be made and by whom in order for the scheme to proceed; by what dates he expects those decisions will be taken; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young

The majority of the proposed financial centre on Canary wharf is located within the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone and benefits from planning permission under the EZ scheme. The board of the London Docklands development corporation did, however, give approval on October 17 to the incorporation in the proposed scheme of buildings more than 120 ft in height and to development within the EZ boundary subzones, subject to approval by LDDC of the materials to be used throughout the proposed development. At the same time the board, in its capacity as landowner, gave approval in principle to the consortium's master plan. The binding contract leasing the land in the corporation's ownership to the consortium is expected to be submitted to the LDCC board for approval in December. An application for planning approval for the part of the development outside the EZ will also need to be made to LDDC as local planning authority in the normal way.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give the dates when the London Dockland Development Corporation first provided written information or plans of the proposal of Credit Suisse-First Boston to create a major financial centre on the Isle of Dogs to hon. Members whose constituencies include part of the statutory area of the corporation;

(2) if he will give the dates when the London Docklands Development Corporation gave official notification to the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Newham and the Greater London council, respectively, of the proposal by Credit Suisse-First Boston to create a major financial centre on the Isle of Dogs; and in what form any such notice was given.

Sir George Young

The LDDC has been in continuing discussion with the London borough of Tower Hamlets about the plans for a major financial centre on Canary wharf within the borough. The Docklands Forum, the local Members of Parliament, the City of London chief officers and the Docklands Business Club, among others, were invited to presentations on the proposals. In addition to its contacts with Tower Hamlets the LDDC has written to the London boroughs of Newham, Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich and the GLC informing them of the proposed development and offering to give them presentations.

Mr. Mikardo

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether, in relation to the proposals for the Canary wharf site in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone, he will arrange to call in the proposals for his own consideration;

(2) in relation to the proposals for the Canary wharf site in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone, what existing development will be displaced and with what employment consequences.

Mr. John Patten

I shall write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Mikardo

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much the proposals for the Canary wharf site in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone would increase the rateable return to be remitted by his Department to the London borough of Tower Hamlets in lieu of normal rate payments by the developer.

Mr. John Patten

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 22 October [Vol. 84, c.129].