HC Deb 22 December 1997 vol 303 cc427-9W
Mr. Tom King

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what work his Department is currently carrying out to develop policies to increase the re-use of current housing and other building stock. [21778]

Mr. Raynsford

The Government are considering policies in this area in the light of responses to the previous Administration's consultation on household growth issues.

Three specific studies due to report during 1998 will also inform policy development on the re-use and redevelopment of the building stock for housing. These are on conversion, demolition and redevelopment processes and potential; the scope for using floors over shops and vacant shops in London to provide additional housing; and housing and mixed use development in town centres.

Mr. Tom King

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken since 1 May, to(a) require and (b) assist local authorities to carry out and update studies which assess capacity for increasing the amount of housing on previously used land in their areas; what funds his Department provides for studies on this subject; and if he will make a statement. [21771]

Mr. Raynsford

There is no specific requirement on local authorities to undertake such studies. Results from the following research projects commissioned recently or due to be commissioned shortly will assist local authorities to assess the potential for increasing the amount of housing on previously used land. My Department's funding is shown where known.

Government Office region Project DETR funding
Northern The potential of urban areas in the Northern region to accept new housing development £15,000
Eastern Development capacity in the Cambridge area and Suffolk £15,000 to £20,000
East Midlands Urban capacity in the East Midlands £15,000
West Midlands Environmental impact of increasing household numbers by 10, 20 and 30 per cent. above existing Regional Planning Guidance 11 figures—
North West Region To explore urban potential for housing £20,000
Yorkshire and Humberside Settlement capacity and regional development options £20,000
Government Office region Project DETR funding
South East Housing capability in the South East £25,000
London Sustainable residential quality in London £40,000
Potential large-scale land releases in London £40,000
Housing above shops in London 26,500
National Supply and location of future brownfield sites

Mr. Tom King

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend planning guidance to encourage a higher proportion of higher density new housing. [21820]

Mr. Raynsford

Current guidance on housing densities is contained in Planning Policy Guidance Notes 3 and 13. Copies of these documents are held in the House of Commons Library. The Government are currently considering all the responses to the last Administration's Green Paper "Household Growth: Where Shall We Live?", some of which raised issues of density, in helping us to decide on the way forward on household growth generally.

Mr. Tom King

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he proposes to encourage people to(a) restore, (b) enlarge and (c) sub-divide existing homes; and what representations he has received on this issue. [21775]

Mr. Raynsford

We will continue to encourage local authorities to act as strategic enablers in ensuring better use of existing homes in all sectors, tackling under-occupation and bringing empty properties back into use.

Public funding is provided to local authorities and Registered Social Landlords for rehabilitation and conversion of properties. We have taken early action to increase investment in housing through our Capital Receipts Initiative. Nearly £800 million is available to local authorities in England in 1997–98 and 1998–99 under the Initiative, and we expect much of this additional money to be directed towards renovation and improvement of the existing stock.

Mr. Tom King

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what increase is forecast in the number of formerly married men and women living alone as owner occupiers in the period 1991 to 2011; and what assumptions are made about their housing requirements and changes in their housing arrangements for the purposes of regional planning guidance for new housing. [21770]

Mr. Raynsford

The 1992-based household projections show that the total number of formerly married men and women living alone is projected to rise by 1.3 million in the period 1991 to 2011. Of these men and women, 1 million are estimated to be divorced or separated, and 0.3 million widowed. The household projections did not distinguish household tenure.

The household projections, which include estimates for a range of different household types, are just one of the factors that must be taken into account by the regional conferences of local authorities in their preparation of Regional Planning Guidance on housing requirements for the Secretary of State. Local planning authorities are required to ensure a reasonable mix and balance of house types and sizes to cater for a range of housing needs.

Gillian Merron

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will release the research report proposing an update to the Index of Local Conditions. [22221]

Mr. Caborn

I am today placing in the Libraries of the House copies of the research report by Professor Robson of Manchester University, together with a note by my Department inviting comments on the proposals to update the Index of Local Conditions.

Mr. Sanders

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons his Department's control total for housing for 1997–98 has fallen. [21899]

Mr. Raynsford

Spending plans for housing and construction for 1996–97 and 1997–98 are net of receipts of £500 million and £652 million respectively from the sale of the Housing Corporation's loans portfolio. Within the Department's overall spending ceiling, however, no significant adjustments have been made to planned spending on housing and construction in 1997–98.

Mr. Sanders

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect the fall in his Department's control total for housing will have on public housing expenditure in 1997–98. [21898]

Mr. Raynsford

The underlying pattern of spending on housing and construction is slightly distorted because the figures for 1996–97 and 1997–98 are net of receipts from the sale of the Housing Corporation's loans portfolio (£500 million in 1996–97 and a further £652 million in 1997–98). However, it was the recognition of pressing housing need and the impact of sustained cuts in housing resources that prompted this Government's Capital Receipts Initiative. This initiative, the resources for which lie outside the Department's control total, will release an additional £800 million in England in 1997–98 and 1998–99 to support capital spending on housing and housing associated regeneration.