§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres currently designated as green field sites or used for agriculture are estimated as needed for housing and industrial development in the south, south-east and south-west of England by the year 2000.
§ Mr. MoynihanStructure and local plans include provision for future housing, industrial and other development needs, but not in a form that allows estimates to be made of the types or areas of land likely to be needed for each purpose. My Department has estimated that in the south-east of England (excluding London) the proportion of land in urban use will increase from approximately 12.6 per cent. in 1981 to 13.7 per cent. by 2001 (compared with 42 per cent. that is designated green belt or AONB). Comparable estimates of the rates of urbanisation in other areas are not available.
In recent years over half all new housing development in the south-east (including London) has taken place on vacant or previously developed land in urban areas.