HC Deb 13 May 2004 vol 421 cc511-2W
Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2004,Official Report, columns 1331–32W, on Green Belt. (1) if he will estimate how much land was used for such developments in (a) 1999 and (b) each year since 2001 for which figures are available; [172478]

(2) if he will estimate how much land was used for such developments in (a) 1999 and (b) each year since 2001 for which figures are available;. [172479]

(3) if he will estimate the number of such developments in (a) 1999 and (b) each year since 2001 for which figures are available. [172480]

Keith Hill

The answers referred to gave the full extent of information currently available. Land Use Change Statistics are derived from Ordnance Survey's map revision process. In urban areas Ordnance Survey records mostly change within six months of the development taking place but in rural areas there can be up to five years between a change taking place and its recording by Ordnance Survey. Early estimates of percentages of dwellings that are on previously developed land and of dwellings per hectare on new developments have been found to be robust and are published early. Totals of land or dwellings, however,

Local authorities
1985–86 Basildon; Brent; Camden; Greenwich; Hackney; Haringey; Islington; Lambeth; Leicester; Lewisham; Portsmouth; Sheffield; Southwark; Thamesdown
1986–87 Basildon; Camden; Greenwich; Hackney; Haringey; Islington; Lambeth; Lewisham; Liverpool; Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Southwark; Thamesdown
1987–88 Basildon; Brent; Brighton; Camden; Gateshead; Greenwich; Hackney; Haringey; Hounslow; Islington; Lambeth; Lewisham; Middlesbrough; Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Newham; North Tyneside; Sheffield; Southwark; Thamesdown; Tower Hamlets
1988–89 Basildon; Camden; Ealing; Greenwich; Hackney; Haringey; Hull; Lambeth; Lewisham; Liverpool; Manchester; Middlesbrough; Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Southwark; Thamesdown; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest
1989–90 Camden; Greenwich; Hackney; Lewisham; Southwark; Thamesdown; Tower Hamlets

continue to increase as further data come in and at present only the 2000 figures are close enough to their final values to be published. There was a particular problem with the 1999 data, which is incomplete and will remain so.