HC Deb 28 July 1998 vol 317 cc109-10W
Mr. Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the use of economic instruments to make it more attractive to develop new housing on recycled land. [52265]

Mr. Raynsford

The Department has commissioned research from Oxford Brookes University to inform decisions about the possible reform of the planning obligations system. The research project involves a series of seminars with local planning authorities, the building industry, and others. These seminars have involved discussing some other options and mechanisms which might better meet the Department's objectives including the development of new housing on recycled land. Officials are also working in-house to examine alternative options for using economic instruments to help meet our planning objectives.