§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of empty properties in(a) London and (b) England owned by (i) private landlords, (ii) local authorities, (iii) housing associations, (iv) Government Departments and (v) other landlords for each of the last five years. [116697]
§ Mr. MullinEstimates of the numbers of vacant dwellings in(a) London and (b) England on 1 April are given in the table. Information is collected on the total private sector and it is not possible to distinguish between private landlord and owner occupied empty properties.
to erecting new shelters; and what plans he has to re-issue such guidelines to require consultation with local residents; [117274]
(2) what targets he has for building new bus shelters and upgrading existing bus shelters for each of the next three years. [117273]
483W
§ Mr. HillDecisions on expenditure on bus shelters are a matter for each local authority taking account of the availability of resources and the assessment of needs in their area. In developing bus strategies as part of their local transport plans, authorities will need to consider what improvements to bus infrastructure are needed, and what targets are appropriate in this regard. Local partnerships with the private sector can make an important contribution to achieving these improvements.
Bus operators and local authorities have permitted development rights under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to provide passenger shelters. The current guidance in DOE Circulars 15-92 and 9-95 makes it clear that there should be arrangements for advance notifications and publicity for individual proposals, wherever appropriate. We have no plans to re-issue this guidance.
London Transport has separate powers to erect and maintain shelters in London; these powers will be transferred to Transport for London under the Greater London Authority in July.