§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what guidance he has issued to local authorities in Wales to ensure that new building takes place on reclaimed land wherever practicable.
§ Mr. RedwoodWelsh Office circular 21/87—development of contaminated land—indicated that the Government wished to encourage full and effective use of land in urban areas and the re-use of sites which have been previously developed. Planning policy guidance note 12, Wales, published in February 1992 requires local authorities to include in development plans, land use policies for the improvement of the physical environment, for example, by reclaiming contaminated and derelict land so that it can be brought back into use more quickly and reduce pressure on green-field sites. In addition, the need for reclamation is referred to in other planning guidance. The value of using reclaimed land for new building is repeated in "The Environmental Agenda for Wales", published recently. I have stressed the priority of this work to the WDA and local authorities in the meetings I have held with it about developments.