§ 87. Mr. ConwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action has been taken in addressing problems or urban decay by the urban development corporation in the Black Country.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Black Country development corporation has continued to provide opportunities for new investment and development in its area. In particular, it has given priority to:
- 1. The assembly and reclamation of land to provide sites for development;
- 2. The procedures necessary as a preliminary to the construction of the Black Country spine road;
- 3. Jointly with Sandwell MBC, marketing and securing a developer for the four million square feet retail and leisure proposal on the former Patent Shaft steelworks site in Wednesbury. It has also assisted by grant aid of £2.5 million, including City Grant, 35 businesses who in turn have invested £12.2 million in the area.
For further information, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Corporation's annual report.