§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Wales what conclusions he has reached following his consultations on the draft circular "Housing for Senior Management."
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe consultations revealed considerable support for my view that a pool of houses482W attractive to and suitable for senior management is an important inducement for business men and industrialists considering investment in Wales and that where such a pool does not exist permission for some new sites should be made available. There was a division of opinion on the degree of need for new sites but it was generally felt that where they were needed they should be on the outskirts of towns and villages rather than in the open countryside. I continue to believe that an adequate pool of suitable houses does not exist everywhere it is needed in Wales and that there must be such a pool of houses or sites for new houses in each locality which seeks to attract incoming business or industry. I accept that this need varies from place to place and that it ought not to be met in the open countryside. I have concluded that the best way to ensure that the need is properly assessed and met is for each local planning authority to review its policies on the control of development with the object of introducing sufficient flexibility into its strategy on developments in and adjoining towns and villages to permit additional sites for single new houses or low density groups of houses so as to ensure that there is the pool of houses and sites for houses necessary for the encouragement of new commerce and industry. I am therefore asking authorities to undertake this review, to discuss it with representatives of industry, business, house builders and land owners, and to report the results to me by 30 November 1986.
It was a criticism of the draft circular that it appeared to suggest that permission for new houses given in response to the policy of providing for the needs of senior management should be related expressly to the needs of individuals or of specific groups of people and that this was a significant departure from the generally accepted policy that planning decisions should be related to the use of land rather than the identity of characteristics of the user. I make it clear that this is not my intention. The need is for incoming senior managers to be able to make their choice of house from a range of suitable property and my object is to ensure that enough houses or sites are likely to be available to meet their needs.
I have today issued a circular indicating my view of the general policy requirement and asking for the local reviews to be carried out. The circular also asks for care to be exercised to ensure that existing attractive residential areas are not spoilt by insensitive infilling.
A copy of the circular has been placed in the Library. I have also arranged for a copy to be sent to my hon. Friend and to all other right hon. and hon. Members representing constituencies in Wales.