§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce incentives to encourage developers to build on(a) hardcore brownfield sites and (b) polluted sites; and what assessment he has made of the contribution such development could make to increasing housing stock. [144539]
§ Keith HillBudget 2001 introduced a 150 per cent. accelerated payable tax credit for owners and investors for the costs they incur in cleaning-up contaminated sites. This year's pre-Budget report announced that the Government are examining the possibility of extending this relief to include remediation of land that is long-term derelict.
English Partnerships, the Government's expert adviser on brownfield land is currently working to develop a housing gap funding scheme for use by themselves, the regional development agencies and the local authorities. The final guidance on the scheme will be available in the New Year. They have also been invited to develop a Land Remediation Scheme which will enable themselves, regional development agencies and the local authorities to give grants to encourage owners of derelict, contaminated and polluted sites to 951W bring them back into productive use. Both of these measures will help to contribute to the delivery of housing.
The Government's planning policies expects new housing to be secured in the most sustainable way, by expecting priority to be given to the re-use of urban brownfield land in preference to greenfield development, although these policies do not rule out greenfield development where it is needed.