§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking to encourage local government groups to convert unrentable city centre office space into housing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George Young[holding answer 13 December 1993]: We aim to encourage the reuse of vacant office buildings for housing and to be flexible in the application of planning policies and standards. Our planning policy guidance note 3 and the draft explanatory note on affordable housing recommend that local authorities view such applications sympathetically.