§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if English Partnerships has made any determination in respect of the suitability of land at Rainham Marsh in Havering for(a) development and (b) regeneration; and if he will place copies in the Library; [65900]
(2) if English Partnerships supports the amended planning application made by Havering Borough Council for development on a site of special scientific interest at Rainham Marsh in Havering; and if he will make a statement. [65903]
§ Mr. MealeNo determination has been made by English Par44tnerships as to their possible involvement in the generation or development of the Havering Riverside site (known as Rainham Marsh). The Havering Riverside site is entirely in the ownership of the London Borough of Havering and, being included within the Unitary Development Plan prepared in 1993 has been considered to be of strategic importance to employment generation within the Thames Gateway area. Any development must meet the requirements for nature conservation also set out in the UDP. English Partnerships is one of the partner organisations examining options for its possible development. English Partnerships supports the strategic
560Wcommercial development of this site as far as it is in line with recommendations in the approved Unitary Development Plan.
§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons English Partnerships has made an application for planning permission on a site of special scientific interest at Rainham Marsh in Havering in identical terms to an application previously made by Havering Borough Council; and subsequently withdrew it. [65902]
§ Mr. MealeFollowing LB Havering's initial outline planning application for development in January 1997, English Partnerships submitted a further identical application in November 1997 in an attempt to deal with the issue of securing benefits for the developing through a Section 106 Agreement. Clearly the Borough cannot submit such an application to itself; to assist the local authority, English Partnership, although in no way committed to this project, therefore became the applicant. That application has now been withdrawn in response to improvements embodied in the London Borough of Havering's amended scheme. The Council is in consultation with both English Nature, English Heritage and other environmental groups, on the environmental implications of the application proposals. All parties are 561W now collaborating to prepare a full environment impact assessment in an attempt to reconcile the competing interests on the site.
§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what powers English Partnerships possesses to(a) make and (b) support planning applications on land in respect of which he has not given directions or consent as to its suitability for (a) regeneration and (b) development; [65904]
(2) what (a) directions and (b) consents have been given to English Partnerships relating to the possible (i) regeneration and (ii) development of Rainham Marsh; and if he will place copies in the Library. [65899]
§ Mr. MealeThe powers of English Partnerships, contained in the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 are directed at its main statutory objective of securing the regeneration of land, across England, which is contaminated, derelict, vacant, unused or likely to become so. In pursuit of this objective the Agency can acquire, hold, manage, reclaim, improve and dispose of land, plant machinery, equipment and other property; give financial assistance to other persons (including for use on environmental improvements); and generally do anything necessary or expedient for the purposes of its objects or for purposes incidental to those purposes. Section 167 of the Act provides for the Secretary of State to issue guidance or directions. Guidance was issued to English Partnerships in April 1994 on which land is suitable for regeneration or development or how it is to exercise its functions. No guidance or directions have been issued since that time, and no guidance, directions or consents have been issued with respect to Rainham Marshes. English Partnerships is free to make planning applications on the same basis as any other applicant.