HC Deb 06 April 1987 vol 114 cc27-9W
Mr. Mikardo

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what percentage of the houses and flats on London Docklands Development Corporation land which were sold between July and December 1986 were sold for more than £70,000;

(2) what percentage of the houses and flats on London Docklands Development Corporation land which were sold between July and December 1986 were sold for more than £40,000;

(3) whether he will take steps to ensure that the auditor's reports on the London Docklands Development Corporation of 1985–86 and for 1986–87 will be published;

(4) what is the present average value of land held by the London Docklands Development Corporation for purposes of (a) housing, (b) offices and (c) industry in each of (i) the enterprise zone, (ii) the Isle of Dogs outside the enterprise zone, (iii) Southwark and (iv) Newham.

Mr. John Patten

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 30 March 1987 at column 414.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which organisations and individuals were consulted by the London Docklands Development Corporation in drawing up its proposals for the redevelopment of the Royal docks.

Mr. John Patten

The list of consultees is a lengthy one, and I will arrange for it to be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his reply of 31 March to the hon. Member for Brigg and Cleethorpes (Mr. Brown), he will state how the London Docklands Development Corporation arrived at the figures of 48,000 jobs arising from the redevelopment of the Royal docks; and if he will provide an analysis by occupation of the 48,000 jobs.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer of 31 March concerning development strategy for the Royal docks, he will state the assumptions and calculations on which he expects 48,000 jobs to be located in the Royal docks area, together with his, or other, estimates of the broad categories of employment.

Mr. John Patten

The estimate of jobs provided in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's answer to his hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Cleethorpes (Mr. Brown) was indicative of the scale of development likely to result from LDDC's broad development strategy. It is based upon the quantity of land available, its suitability for various types and densities of development, and the interest already shown by the private sector. The range of occupations represented in this total will depend upon the nature of the specific developments which eventually take place.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 31 March to the hon. Member for Brigg and Cleethorpes (Mr. Brown), regarding 7,000 homes in the London Docklands Development Corporation area, how many of the homes will be (a) for rent and (b) for sale; and what estimate he has made of the average sale price.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, pursuant to his answer of 31 March concerning development strategy for the Royal docks, he will give an estimate of the breakdown of the 7,000 dwellings into (i) freehold, (ii) private rented, (iii) housing association rented, (iv) housing association, low rent, (v) public rented and (vi) other tenures;

(2) what investment in transport infrastructure other than the Beckton extension of the dockland light railway he expects to be necessary to serve the 7,000 additional dwellings and 48,000 jobs which he expects to see in the Royal docks development area;

(3) what estimate he has made, pursuant to his answer of 31 March, Official Report, concerning development strategy for the Royal docks, of the effects of new retail facilities now authorised in the area of the Royal docks on the existing retail centres in east London and south Essex;

(4) what consideration he has given to the implications of, and what conclusion he has reached on, the location of his planned 7,000 additional dwellings and 48,000 jobs near the flightpath of the London city airport in the Royal docks; what consultations he or the London Docklands Development Corporation has had with the Civil Aviation Authority concerning safety aspects of these proposals; and what limitation, he expects to make on the height of buildings in the redevelopment area;

(5) what consultations he has had with local authorities concerning additional health facilities in Newham consequent to his strategy to build a further 7,000 dwellings and locate 48,000 jobs in the redevelopment area of the Royal docks;

(6) if he will tabulate in the Official Report the approximate areas of floor space he expects to be built in the Royal docks, Newham for each of (a) housing, (b) exhibition and sports, (c) commercial, (d) industrial and (e) retail purposes.

Mr. John Patten

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's answer to his hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Cleethorpes (Mr. Brown) indicated the type of development which would be carried out under the approved strategy. It is too early for detailed decisions.

They will be taken in the light of the actual private sector development proposals which come forward.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what bodies or persons were invited to the presentation or press conference arranged by his Department to announce his approval for, and details of, the London Docklands Development Corporation's strategy of development for the Royal docks; and what steps he took to inform elected public representatives of his decisions.

Mr. John Patten

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made his approval of the strategy known to the House in answer to a question from his hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Cleethorpes (Mr. Brown) on 31 March. A press briefing was held subsequently.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library all information, including maps and diagrams, on his proposals and those of the London Docklands Development Corporation for his approved strategy for redevelopment of the Royal docks in Newham.

Mr. John Patten

Appropriate documents are being assembled and will be placed in the Library.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what decisions were taken by the board of the London Docklands Development Corporation at its meeting on Thursday 26 March; and what opportunity will be given by them for applications to purchase land by developers who wish to implement the strategy he has recently approved for the Royal docks redevelopment area.

Mr. John Patten

The proceedings of the board of the London Docklands Development Corporation are confidential.

No commitments for the sale of land in the Royal docks have been entered into for major sites and the LDDC can consider applications for purchase.