HC Deb 01 June 1998 vol 313 cc79-81W
Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the conservation of the Green Belt and of the countryside around cities and towns. [42546]

Mr. Macdonald

The Government are committed to ensuring the long term protection of Scotland's green belts and countryside, whilst looking to planning

Authority Applicant Development Location Ground area Approved
North Lanarkshire Letting bedroom block Dalziel Park, Motherwell 15.12.97
North Lanarkshire Peter D. Stirling Ltd Infilling and recycling/reuse of construction waste Drumcavel Quarry, Mount Ellen 06.08.97
South Lanarkshire Mrs. M. Ingram 1 house Muir Farm, Carmunnock, Glasgow 1.36ha 27.11.97
Renfrewshire Linzi and William Gorman Storage Yardfoot Farm, Lochwinnoch 180m2 19.11.97
South Ayrshire Telecoms Tower and Compound Mercury Personal Communications Raith Hill, Prestwick 96m2 21.07.97
East Dunbartonshire Cora Foundation/St. Mary's Kenmure Residential, teaching and leisure St. Mary's Road, Bishopbriggs 366m2 10.07.98
East Dunbartonshire McCann, Lindsay Ltd. Extension to hard standing, industry Craigton Works, Craigton, Milngavie 06.05.97
East Dunbartonshire Mr. J. Stark 1 House Alton Farm, Antermony Road, Milton of Campsie 09.10.96
Falkirk Goalday Landfill Avondale Farm, Polmont, Falkirk 80ha 15.11.96
Falkirk Falkirk Football and Athletic Club Football stadium Westfield Road, Falkirk 30ha 03.06.96
Kyle and Carrick House and garage 12 Monktonhill Road, Southwoods, Troon 10.02.97
Kyle and Carrick Bett/Summerbridge Retail Heathfield/Whitletts, Ayr 24.04.96
Midlothian Private housing (45) development Dalkeith 22.03.95
Hamilton George Wilson (Stonehouse) Ltd. 175 Houses Strathaven Road/Carscallan Road, Hamilton 7.082ha 06.08.96
Strathkelvin Mr. Kohli House extension and garage Lochview, Bardavie 16.04.96
Strathkelvin Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health Services Offices to housing (change of use) The White House, Lennox Castle, Lennoxtown 15.01.96
Strathkelvin Mr. Kohli Entrance vestibule and double garage Lochview, Bardavie 31.01.95
Strathkelvin Beazer Homes Housing Garnhart Estate 9ha 11.96
Aberdeen Stewart Milne Homes Ltd. Housing Contlaw Road, Milltimber 15ha 06.03.96
Aberdeen Mr. F. J. McLean 1 House (change of use from store) West Lasts, Peterculter 10.05.95
Edinburgh Gogar Curling Club Extension to Curling Club Gogar Station Road, Edinburgh 1ha 30.01.96

authorities to ensure through their development plans that their policies remain relevant to local circumstances and to reflect those policies in their planning decisions.

Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list planning approvals allowing development in the Green Belt in Scotland since 1 January 1995, indicating the council concerned, the nature, date, location and extent of each development, the developer and whether approval was given by the council or by his Department. [42429]

Mr. Macdonald

Information on decisions taken by councils allowing development in the Green Belt is not held centrally. From 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1997 my right hon. Friend has granted approval for the applications listed in the table. The majority of these decisions were appeal decisions delegated to The Scottish Office Inquiry Reporters Unit.

Authority Applicant Development Location Ground area Approved
Grampian J. Hutchison 2 Holiday chalets Elrick Farm, Ridge of Muchalls, by Stonehaven 13.07.95
Grampian C&R Fraser Housing Jellieshillock, Maryculter, Kincardine 25.01.95
Kincardine and Deeside Trustees of late G. A. M. Saunders Housing Monduff, Newtonhill 15.05.95
East Kilbride Lightbody Ltd. Housing Hamilton Road, Strathaven 3.4ha 01.96
East Kilbride Whiteshawgate Ltd. Housing Hamilton Road, Strathaven 6.9ha 01.96
Renfrew Housing Kirktonfield Road, Neilston 16.03.95
Strathclyde Wimpey Homes Holdings Ltd. Housing South of Wester Cleddons Road and West of Westerhill Farm 30ha 06.02.95

Source:

The Planning Exchange (details of applicant's name and ground area are not recorded in every instance)

Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the councils which have sought approval since 1 January 1995 to remove protection from land previously designated as green belt and the date and the area of land involved in each case. [42446]

Authority Green belt Housing allocation Date of submission
Strathclyde Regional Council Ayr, Prestwick, Troon 650 November 1995
Strathclyde Regional Council Greater Glasgow 170 November 1995
Lothian Regional Council Edinburgh Up to 4,000 January 1995

Notes:

1. The Grampian Structure Plan, submitted for approval in February 1995, includes a green belt exceptions policy which allows for limited release of land for housing and business use. The extent of these releases remains to be defined and quantified through the relevant Local Plans.

2. The Edinburgh Green Belt is the subject of a review following modification of the Lothian Structure Plan by the Secretary of State.

Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the parts of Scotland designated as Green Belt, indicating the areas covered. [42433]

Mr. Macdonald

There are six designated green belts in Scotland. The boundaries of individual green belts are defined in the relevant local authorities' local plans which can be viewed at the offices of the authority concerned. As at January 1998 the area covered by such designation is as follows:

Green belt Area (hectares)
Aberdeen 23,039
Ayr, Prestwick and Troon 3,024
Clackmannan 981
Falkirk and Grangemouth 3,803
Glasgow and Clyde Valley 109,917
Edinburgh 15,869
Total 156,633

Source:

The Scottish Office Geographic Information Service—based on information in Local Plans.