HL Deb 24 September 2002 vol 638 cc239-40WA
Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which are the nine areas that they have identified for the pathfinder projects in areas of market collapse of the local housing market; how many dwellings each of these areas contains; and whether they will give their estimate of how many of those dwellings are (a) unfit and (b) subject to market collapse. [HL5518]

The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker)

The proposed intervention areas of the nine pathfinder projects have not yet been confirmed but are being discussed with the local authorities concerned. It is not therefore possible to provide statistical data relating to stock condition. However, we are able to provide the approximate total number of properties, not all of which will be in low demand, in each pathfinder area, which is shown in the table (numbers are subject to change as the intervention area boundaries are yet to be agreed).

Pathfinder Local authorities Initial estimate of dwellings within provisional boundary
1. Greater Manchester Manchester and Salford 120,000
2. Merseyside Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral 120,000
3. East Lancashire Blackburn, Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle 70,000
4. Humberside Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire 110,000
5. North Staffordshire Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme 50,000
6. Tyneside Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead 70,000
7. Oldham/Rochdale Oldham and Rochdale 80,000
8. South Yorkshire Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster 130,000
9. West Midlands Birmingham and Sandwell 50,000
Total 800,000 approx

Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much money has so far been announced for the pathfinder projects in areas of housing market collapse; how much has been allocated to each area; and for what purposes; and [HL5519]

Whether they have carried out an assessment of the financial requirements of the nine pathfinder projects in areas of housing market collapse; if so, what are those requirements; and what proportion of them they expect to be able to provide over the next five years. [HL5520]

Lord Rooker

We announced on 16 May that we were making available £25 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund to assist low demand pathfinder projects in vital preparatory work, in equal shares of £2.66 million (£1 million will be retained centrally for collective monitoring and evaluation). The principal preparatory work to be undertaken is the development of a market-restructuring scheme underpinned by relevant research.

My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 18 July that, following the spending review, resources would be made available to enable the pathfinder projects to take forward their market restructuring schemes—comprehensive, holistic plans for the transformation of their areas. The amount of resources will be announced later in the year.

Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For which pathfinder project areas they have announced detailed boundaries, and when they expect to announce them for each of the remaining areas. [HL5521]

Lord Rooker

The proposed intervention area boundaries of the nine pathfinder projects have not yet been confirmed. Once confirmed, disclosure will be the responsibility of the pathfinder projects.

Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the policies in the pathfinder project areas for dealing with housing which is unfit or subject to housing market collapse will be on a one policy fits all basis or whether there will be the flexibility to respond to different local circumstances or the different wishes of local residents, both for and within each pathfinder area. [HL5522]

Lord Rooker

Pathfinder projects' aim is to provide long-lasting solutions for communities blighted by derelict homes through investment and innovation. They will do this by developing a strategic approach—encapsulated in a comprehensive, holistic market restructuring scheme—for regenerating their sub-regional housing markets that will bring together key stakeholders, including residents, inform future investment, and test out new and innovative approaches to combating low demand. Pathfinder projects therefore have the flexibility, and the opportunity, to determine the solutions that are right for their area.