§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further proposals he has relating to the transfer of powers from the London Docklands development corporation to the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Southwark and Newham. [2164]
§ Ms Angela EagleThe only statutory powers which the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) have and which it is necessary to return to the local authorities are those concerned with LDDC's responsibilities as planning authority. Local authorities already have a range of powers enabling them to pursue the kind of general regeneration remit which LDDC has undertaken.
Since 1994 the LDDC have been pursuing a phased programme of withdrawal from the Docklands Urban Development Area (UDA) leading to complete withdrawal and dissolution of the organisation in March 1998. Those phases of the withdrawal programme successfully completed to date are:—
Bermondsay Riverside (LB Southwark)—Area removed from the UDA and planning powers returned to Southwark council on 31 October 1994.Beckton (LB Newham)—Area removed from the UDA and planning powers returned to Newham Council on 31 December 1995Surrey Docks (LB Southwark)—Area removed from the UDA and planning powers returned to Southwark Council on 20 December 1996.Wapping and Limehouse (LB Tower Hamlets)-Area removed from the UDA and planning powers returned to Tower Hamlets council on 31 January 1997.Apart from transitional powers, enabling completion of certain projects and activities underway at the time of the removal of these areas from the UDA, the LDDC ceased to have any powers to operate in the dedesignated areas after the dates set out.
It is intended that the Isle of Dogs, Leamouth and South Poplar (LB Tower Hamlets) will be removed from the UDA and planning powers returned to LB Tower Hamlets byu the end of this year. LDDC's remaining planning powers thereafter (covering only the Royal Docks area) will return to Newham council when LDDC is dissolved in March 1998.
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