HC Deb 21 January 1988 vol 125 cc829-30W
Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made as to how much derelict land owned by local authorities and public bodies could be sold for private development.

Mr. Trippier

Under part X of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, a register of unused and underused land owned by certain public bodies, including local authorities, has been compiled. At the end of December 1987 about 91,000 acres of such land were entered on the register. In broad terms it is estimated that about 70 per cent. of this land has some potential for development.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a list of those local authorities and public bodies which currently own derelict land in excess of 1 sq mile.

Mr. Trippier

The amount of land entered on the registers of unused and underused land on 31 October 1987 owned by each of the following bodies exceeded 1 sq mile (640 acres) in total:

  • Blackburn Borough Council
  • Bristol City Council
  • British Coal
  • British Rail
  • British Steel Corporation
  • Central Electricity Generating Board
  • Commission for New Towns
  • Derwentside District Council
  • Department of Health and Social Services
  • Department of the Environment (including Property Services Agency)
  • Hampshire County Council
  • Kingston upon Hull City Council
  • Leeds City Council
  • Leicester City Council
  • Ministry of Defence
  • Nottinghamshire County Council
  • Plymouth City Council
  • Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council
  • Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority
  • Telford Development Corporation
  • Thamesdown Borough Council
  • Thames Water Authority
  • Tyne and Wear Residuary Body
  • Wansbeck District Council
  • Warrington Development Corporation

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to take action to reduce the amount of derelict land held by local authorities in the light of the report "Why Wasteland?" published by the Adam Smith Institute, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Trippier

A programme of forced disposals of unused and underused land owned by public bodies, using the power under part X of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 is under way. So far the statutory procedures have been initiated on 242 sites owned by local authorities, covering nearly 1,400 acres. I am considering what further action is necessary.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to require local authorities to sell waste land for private housing development.

Mr. Trippier

Part X of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 empowers me to direct public bodies, including local authorities to dispose of land entered on the register of unused and underused land. I have no intention of extending those powers to require disposal for a particular use.