HC Deb 08 April 1998 vol 310 cc290-1W
Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what definition his Department uses of(a) brown field and (b) green field sites. [37876]

Mr. Raynsford

There is, as yet, no specific definition of 'brown field' land, but it is usually taken to mean land previously developed for urban uses, as defined for the Department's Land Use Change Statistics. These uses include residential, transport and utilities, industry and commerce, community services, previously developed vacant land and derelict land. There is also no specific definition of 'green field' land. However, it is usually interpreted as 'land not previously developed'. This includes the Land Use Change 'rural uses' categories, such as agriculture, forestry, open land, water, minerals and landfill, outdoor recreation, defence together with vacant land in urban areas that was not previously developed.

On 23 February the Government published Planning for the Communities of the Future, which contains their main proposals for how household growth should be managed through the planning system. The document committed the Government to the publication of a discussion paper on regional recycling targets, which will also look at 'brownfield/greenfield' definitional issues, before a draft revised PPG3 is issued for consultation in the summer.

Mr. Rowe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how the cost of decontaminating brown-field land will be met where such land is made available for housebuilding. [38386]

Angela Eagle

The cost of decontaminating brownfield land made available for housebuilding is borne by the developer in the overall costs of the development. However, it is common for the costs relating to the decontamination to have been taken into consideration in the price paid for the land.

In some circumstances, developers or purchasers of land may be able to secure assistance with the cost of decontaminating brownfield land through English Partnerships or their equivalents in Wales and Scotland.

£million
1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03
Anglia Railways 26.0 22.1 15.0 13.0 8.6
Cardiff Railways 18.1 17.1 15.8 15.0 14.3
Central Trains 122.9 109.0 103.4 99.9 96.9
Virgin Cross Country 95.1 82.2 73.9 67.8 50.5
Gatwick Express –7.9 -9.8 -10.7 -11.5 -12.0
Great Eastern 14.0 8.1 2.8 -0.3 -5.1
Great Western Trains 53.9 47.8 41.4 34.0 27.3
Great North Eastern Railway 36.3 16.5 5.2 2.0 0.1
Virgin West Coast 68.4 56.1 53.7 52.3 -3.9
Island Line 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.0 -
LTS Rail 25.1 23.4 21.9 20.6 19.3
Merseyrail Electrics 6.5 5.9 5.7 5.4 5.5
Midland Main Line 2.4 0.9 -0.8 -2.6 -4.4
Connex South Central 54.8 46.9 43.4 38.3 35.9
Silverlink 35.5 29.5 26.4 23.0 20.0
North Western Trains 89.8 81.6 74.9 71.7 69.0
Regional Railways North East 122.9 109.5 102.3 97.3 93.7
Scotrail Railways - - - - -
Wales & West Railway 120.5 114.0 106.9 100.3 95.2
South West Trains 62.2 57.4 51.4 47.5 44.0
Thames Trains 60.8 55.7 50.5 45.2 35.7
Thameslink Rail 24.8 17.0 13.5 7.6 3.8
Chiltern Railway -8.7 -16.2 -22.5 -23.2 27.0
Connex South Eastern 12.8 9.9 5.7 4.7 3.3
West Anglia Great Northern 85.1 61.1 49.1 40.4 32.6
Total 34.7 25.4 13.1 4.3 14.6
Total with gross PTE costs 1,162.7 973.0 847.0 753.4 588.9
Total with net PTE costs 1,575.7 1,352.3 1,203.3 1,092.0 915.2