HL Deb 14 January 2004 vol 657 cc26-8WS
Lord Rooker

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

Creating sustainable communities: Making it Happen: Thames Gateway and the Growth Areas published in July 2003 announced outline plans for a £164 million package for the three newer growth areas of Ashford, Milton Keynes/South Midlands, and London/Stansted/Cambridge. Commitments were made then to fund individual schemes to a total value of £88 million.

I am announcing today detailed allocations for a further £63 million from the £164 million package. This includes £11.5 million allocated to environmental projects in Ashford, Milton Keynes/South Midlands and London/Stansted/Cambridge to kick start the Government's long-term vision for green spaces. They will improve landscapes, country footpaths and valuable habitats in those areas. More than £50 million has been awarded to 18 other projects to provide key transport and economic infrastructure for three growth areas.

The flagship schemes announced today include the following green developments: A completely new country park to be created on farmland at Coton, west of Cambridge, improving the quality of the green belt and providing a green buffer between Cambridge and the village of Coton. A £1.5 million kick start to the new River Nene Regional Park in Northamptonshire. Three new areas of woodland and a new cycle path through the Forest of Marston Vale, improving poor quality land and providing green buffers between the growing towns of Bedford and Milton Keynes. Protecting and improving valuable habitats, including chalk downland at Dunstable Downs and fenland at Wicken, north of Cambridge. New footpaths and bridges to improve access to the Lee Valley Regional Park in north-east London.

Key improvements to infrastructure announced today include: £9.5 million for the London/Stansted/Cambridge growth area, bringing the total to over £20 million. New projects will provide access to new housing sites on Cambridge's southern fringe, and will fund design and preparation work for the Cambridge to Huntingdon guided bus, recently awarded £65 million by the Department for Transport. Over £35 million for the Milton Keynes/South Midlands growth area. Flagship schemes include £10.6 million for the construction of a new access road and bridge to enable early delivery of 3,400 new homes in Wellingborough and £5 million for a new road at Bedford, which together with funding from the Department for Transport and English Partnerships will enable 3,450 to be provided which would not otherwise go ahead. £2.8 million for schemes to support job creation and improve the urban environment in Corby, £1.7 million to improve the town centre in Aylesbury and £3 million to regenerate the historic Bletchley Park complex. An additional £4.5 million to kick start the regeneration of Ashford town centre, on top of the £9 million announced in July 2003. A further £19.5 million has been set aside for further schemes in the London/Stansted/Cambridge corridor, details of which we will announce in April 2004.

Full details of the projects announced today will be available in the Libraries of both Houses.