Derelict Land (Hansard, 7 February 1989)

§ Mr. Trippier

The resources available for derelict land reclamation under the derelict land programme will be £67.182 million in 1989–90, we expect that about 900 hectares of land will be reclaimed by the programme in 1989–90 thus maintaining the momentum of the programme which, since 1979, has funded the reclamation 603W of more than 11,000 hectares of derelict land. In addition, urban development corporations are now tackling some of the most extensive areas of dereliction and city grant is also helping redevelop derelict sites in inner city areas.

As in previous years more than 90 per cent. of derelict land grant will be spent in the northern and midlands regions. We have given particular priority to Yorkshire and Humberside and the west midlands. We are providing £12 million to the Yorkshire and Humberside region to increase the attack on persistent dereliction. £13 million is allocated to the west midlands and of this £6 million is intended to continue the investigative and remedial work on old limestone workings in the black country. Overall the allocations include more than £12 million for coal mining and related dereliction, a further increase on last year's record expenditure.

We are approving a new rolling programme for the joint local authority initiative in the Dearne valley in south Yorkshire. Existing rolling programme status for the lower Don valley (Sheffield) and Preston docks is to cease. We are also introducing triennial reviews for all rolling programmes and major projects and under these arrangements the present programmes in Wigan, north-east Lancashire, Wirral, Normanby park, Corby and the black country will be examined with the local authorities in the course of 1989 and targets set for completion of their work. Total expenditure on the 13 local authority rolling programmes approved for 1989–90 will be nearly £19 million.

The allocations will permit completion of work on the major reclamation of the Consett steelworks and the 1990 Gateshead garden festival site. Progress will be maintained in Corby, Wigan and the black country and on the exciting private sector Meadowhall development in Sheffield. A start should be made on the BICC site in Knowsley.

In general, priorities for derelict land reclamation remain as set out in the department's circular 28/85, "Reclamation and Reuse of Derelict Land". This stressed the importance of schemes designed to reclaim urban, especially inner city, land for housing and industrial and commercial uses. These priorities will be reflected in the schemes that will be supported in 1989–90.

However, as I announced on 20 July 1988, I have undertaken to review priorities for derelict land reclamation in the light of the findings of the 1988 derelict land survey. In doing so we shall also have regard to the recent report of the National Audit Office on derelict land grant and to the forthcoming report of the Public Accounts Committee. Officials are already engaged on the review with terms of reference to review the causes and incidence of derelict land and the measures needed to deal with it and to prevent dereliction in future having regard to value for money.

If changes are proposed to policies or procedures for the reclamation of derelict land then a consultation paper will be published before firm decisions are taken.