HC Deb 13 December 1993 vol 234 cc449-50W
Mr. Milligan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the names of the authorities to be included in the programme for housing transfers by councils in 1994–95

Sir George Young

I am today announcing the names of the 12 authorities who will be able to proceed, on a voluntary basis and subject to the approval of their tenants, with proposals to transfer their housing stock to housing associations during 1994–95.

I am pleased that 14 authorities responded to our invitation and that, as a result of an expanded programme, it has been possible to programme some 50,000 dwellings.

The 12 authorities which have successfully gained a place on the 1994–95 disposals programme, together with the 15 intended recipient housing associations are as follows:

  1. (a) (i) a disposal by Basingstoke and Deane borough council to Basingstoke and Upper Test Housing Association of not more than 4,900 dwelling houses; (ii) a disposal by Basingstoke and Deane borough council to Basingstoke and North Hampshire Housing Association of not more than 4,800 dwelling houses;
  2. (b) a disposal by Castle Point borough council to Castle Point Housing Association of not more than 1,900 dwelling houses;
  3. (c) (i) a disposal by Cherwell district council to Banbury Homes Housing Association of not more than 3,483 dwelling houses; 450 (ii) a disposal by Cherwell district council to Cherwell Valley Housing Association of not more than 3,489 dwelling houses;
  4. (d) a disposal by Harborough district council to South Leicestershire Housing Association of not more than 2,853 dwelling houses;
  5. (e) a disposal by Maldon district council to Plume Housing Association of not more than 2,100 dwelling houses;
  6. (f) a disposal by Malvern Hills district council to Elgar Housing Association of not more than 4,900 dwelling houses;
  7. (g) a disposal by Mid Beds district council to Mid Beds Housing Association of not more than 3,015 dwelling houses;
  8. (h) a disposal by North Dorset district council to North Dorset Housing Association of not more than 3,000 dwelling houses;
  9. (i) a disposal by Thanet district council to Thanet Community Housing Association of not more than 1,760 dwelling houses;
  10. (j) a disposal by Vale of White Horse district council to the Vale Housing Association of not more than 5,000 dwelling houses;
  11. (k) a disposal by Walsall metropolitan borough council to Beechdale Community Housing Association of not more than 1,548 dwelling houses;
  12. (l) (i) a disposal by Wychavon district council to Evesham and Pershore Housing Association of not more than 4,144 dwelling houses; and (ii) a disposal by Wychavon district council to Droitwich Spa and Rural Housing Association of not more than 2,626 dwelling houses.

The programme comprises some 50,000 dwellings valued at more than £560 million.

Section 135 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 enables the Secretary of State to control housing stock disposals through this annual programme.