§ Dr. WhiteheadTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much land has been acquired by(a) English Partnerships and (b) regional development agencies since January 2002 to enable the provision of (i) public transport, (ii) public open spaces, (iii) schools, (iv) hospitals and (v) other community facilities in each of the (A) four growth areas in the South East and (B) nine pathfinder areas announced in the Communities Plan. [145751]
§ Keith HillSince January 2002, English Partnerships and the regional development agencies (RDAs) have acquired land for regeneration activity within the boundaries of the four Growth areas and the nine Market Renewal Pathfinder areas, as follows:
Quantity of Land acquired (hectares) English Partnerships
Regional development
agencies
Market Renewal Pathfinder areas 26.5 145.2 Growth areas 5.25 54.3 These acquisitions include sites within urban regeneration company areas that fall within the boundaries of the Pathfinder and Growth areas. Land has not yet been directly acquired as part of the Market Renewal Pathfinder schemes.
In his statement on 30 July 2003, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced that we had agreed in principle to provide funding to help English Partnerships and the relevant RDAs acquire land 478W for remediation and eventual release for future development in the Milton Keynes/South Midlands and Ashford Growth Areas.
Sustainable mixed use will be promoted for acquired sites but until further master planning and development agreements have been finalised, their precise use will not be known.