§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what price will be received by the London Residuary Body for County Hall; what is the proposed timetable for the conversion of the site; and which individuals and organisations were involved in the successful bid.
§ Mr. ChopeDetails of the terms of the bid accepted by the LRB for the sale of County Hall are commercially confidential. Conversion of the site and its timing will be dependent on matters that have yet to be determined. The purchasers are the County Hall Development Group, a 595W consortium including New England Properties, London and Metropolitan, Touche Remnant Property Investment and Lazard Brothers.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he was consulted by the London Residuary Body in respect of the bids submitted for the development of County Hall, SE1; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeThe LRB did not formally consult my right hon. Friend as there is no requirement for it to do so, but it did inform him of the sale prior to its announcement on 29 June.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the consistency of the proposed development of the County Hall site with his decisions, as set out in his Department's press release No. 407 of 20 October 1987; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeNone. This is in the first instance a matter for the local planning authority, the London borough of Lambeth. Development of the County Hall site will be subject to the granting of planning consents to the extent that any proposed development is not already permitted.