§ 22. Margaret MoranTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he is taking to further encourage development of housing on brown-field sites and through refurbishment. [86340]
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§ Mr. McNultyPlanning Policy Guidance Note 3, `Housing' gives priority to re-using previously-developed land within urban areas, bringing empty homes back into use and converting existing buildings in preference to the development of green-field sites. Planning policies are backed by a package of fiscal measures, including a 150 per cent. tax credit for cleaning up contaminated land, reductions in VAT to encourage conversions of existing property into dwellings and the re-use of long-term empty homes, and a tax allowance for flats over shops to encourage use of redundant space.