§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department has taken since 1992 to support urban development corporations in their task of urban regeneration.
§ Mr. BaldryThe Government have provided urban development corporations in England with a total of £895.8 million in grant in aid in the years 1992–93 and 1993–94.
UDCs have completed over 24,400 homes, more than 4,800,000 m2 of non-housing floorspace, created nearly 140,000 job opportunities, and have attracted £12.6 billion in private investment since inception to 31 March 1993. To the end of December 1993, UDCs had added to these achievements nearly 2,200 homes, over 315,000 m2 of non-housing floorspace, almost 14,000 jobs, and a further £368 million of private investment1.
Two new UDCs have been established in partnership with the local authorities: at Birmingham Heartlands, to take over redundant inner-city sites in central Birmingham, including part of the former Leyland DAF site; and at Plymouth, where the principal challenge is the productive use of the Royal William yard.
UDCs have been prominent in promoting the private finance initiative: for example, they have invited joint 1004W ventures for four further schemes in addition to those at Birmingham and Plymouth. London Docklands is promoting the establishment of a combined heat and power development and a housing-led mixed development for the royal docks; Bristol UDC is seeking developers for Quay Point city centre site adjacent to Temple Meads station; and Central Manchester UDC is seeking partners for commercial or residential development of a grade 2 listed Victorian warehouse.
The Department has clarified administrative arrangements with the UDCs by issuing a "Management Statment" setting out the respective responsibilities of the UDC board, Ministers, the accounting officers and the Department.
1Figures included for 1993–94 are provisional.