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3 Feb 2004 : Column 850W—continued
Brownfield Land
Mr. Flight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's commitment to develop brownfield land. [152467]
Keith Hill: The Government want to make the best use of disused brownfield land in and around our towns and cities. This will help to ease pressures on the countryside and avoid urban sprawl. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister wants to create more welcoming and attractive places in which people can take pride. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working closely with English Partnerships to develop a national strategy
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for brownfield land. English Partnerships has published the results of the first stage of work on the strategy, which provides a better understanding of what land is available. Through English Partnerships and the Regional Development Agencies we are remediating brownfield land at a rate of over 1,400 hectares a year.
Council Tax
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many applications have been made under section 76 of the Local Government Act 2003 for reductions or variations in the level of council tax payable, broken down by local authority. [152808]
Mr. Raynsford: None. Local authorities do not need to make applications to the Government in order to use the power in section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as inserted by section 76 of the Local Government Act 2003. It is up to local billing authorities to decide whether to use this new provision and to assure themselves that what they are proposing is within their powers.
Cumbria County Council
Dr. Jack Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Government grant for Cumbria county council was in (a) 1996–97, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [152338]
Mr. Raynsford: Formula Grant comprises Revenue Support Grant and National Non-Domestic Rates. Allocations to Cumbria county council were:
- (a) £229.1 million
- (b) £269.5 million
- (c) £293.7 million
The amounts are not strictly comparable because of changes in council functions between years.
Local Government Finance
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage increase in grant would be necessary to bring Cambridgeshire county council up to the full Formula Spending Share for 2004–05. [152328]
Mr. Raynsford: Formula Spending Shares (FSS) and Formula Grant are not strictly comparable as FSS includes an element of assumed council tax and the grant distribution system uses floors and ceilings on grant changes as well as FSS. However, Cambridgeshire would have received 3.87 per cent. more grant in 2004–05 had floors and ceilings not applied.
Market Renewal Pathfinder Budget
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the budget was for each market renewal pathfinder scheme for (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04, broken down by (i) English region and (ii) pathfinder area. [151880]
Mr. Raynsford: Over the financial year 2002–03 and 2003–04, there has been a budget of £2.66 million for each pathfinder for preparation of a strategic scheme and where considered appropriate by them some early action projects.
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For 2003–04 to 2005–06, a market renewal fund of £500 million has been created for the nine pathfinders. So far for 2003–04, Birmingham Sandwell, East Lancashire, Oldham and Rochdale, Merseyside, NewcastleGateshead, North Staffordshire and South Yorkshire have been allocated £4 million to begin action on the ground ahead of scheme agreement.
Manchester Salford is the first pathfinder to complete and agree their strategic scheme. They have been awarded £125 million over the next two-and-a-half years to implement their scheme. Merseyside has recently been awarded £86 million and NewcastleGateshead £69 million. Three other pathfinders have submitted their scheme to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister—East Lancashire, Oldham Rochdale and South Yorkshire—these are currently being assessed and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to announce allocations later this year.
The table summarises funding allocations thus far for 2002–03 and 2003–04 by pathfinder and English region. The figures for Manchester Salford, NewcastleGateshead and Merseyside show funding up until March 2006.
| Region/pathfinder | Total funding for pathfinder | Total funding for region |
|---|---|---|
| North West | ||
| Manchester Salford | 127.66 | |
| Merseyside | 92.66 | 233.64 |
| East Lancashire | 6.66 | |
| Oldham Rochdale | 6.66 | |
| North East | ||
| Newcastle Gateshead | 75.66 | 75.66 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | ||
| South Yorkshire | 6.66 | 9.32 |
| Hull and East Riding | 2.66 | |
| West Midlands | ||
| Birmingham Sandwell | 6.66 | 13.32 |
| North Staffordshire | 6.66 | |
Rural Land Use
Mr. Flight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the concept of temporary development which applies to minerals and landfill operations with a restoration condition will remain unchanged by the Draft Planning Policy Statement Number 7—Sustainable Development in Rural Areas. [152465]
Keith Hill: In September 2003 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published a public consultation draft of a new Planning Policy Statement (PPS7), Sustainable Development in Rural Areas. The draft sets out proposed national planning policies to deliver sustainable rural communities by focussing most new development on towns and villages, and through strict control over new development in the open countryside. PPS7 does not propose any changes to the established definition of previously-developed land which excludes land used for mineral extraction and waste disposal where provision for restoration has been made through development control procedures.
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Mr. Flight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether land and buildings within the rural land use classification are prima facie protected from development. [152466]
Keith Hill: National planning policies for rural areas are principally set out in Planning Policy Guidance 7 (PPG7), "The Countryside—Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development". This guidance is not based on a rural land use classification. PPG7 advises that building in the open countryside, away from existing settlements or areas allocated for development, should be strictly controlled. Further restrictions on development in Green Belts are set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 2.
It is for the local planning authority in the first instance to determine planning applications for the development of land and buildings in accordance with policies in an adopted development plan for the area, and with regard to national and regional planning guidance.
In September 2003 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published a public consultation draft of a new Planning Policy Statement (PPS7), "Sustainable Development in Rural Areas". The draft sets out proposed national planning policies to deliver sustainable rural communities by focussing most new development on towns and villages, and through strict control over new development in the open countryside.
Social Housing
Ms Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 22 January 2004, Official Report, column 1464W, which column of the table includes units built or acquired by registered social landlords with recycled capital grant. [152188]
Keith Hill: Dwellings built or acquired by registered social landlords using recycled capital grant funding are included in column A of the table produced on the 22 January 2004, Official Report, column 1464W.
Thames Gateway
Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have for the adoption of standards for access to (a) schools, (b) healthcare facilities, (c) leisure facilities, (d) open spaces, (e) shops and (f) new jobs in the communities that are planned in the Thames Gateway, Essex area. [152431]
Keith Hill: For the Thames Gateway Essex area and elsewhere, Government planning policy (in particular Planning Policy Guidance 13) is to promote accessibility to jobs, shopping, leisure facilities and services by public transport, walking and cycling.
In addition, the Social Exclusion Unit's "Making the Connections" report, published in February 2003, sets out a strategy to help people on low incomes access work, food shops and key public services, notably education and healthcare. This includes the approach of accessibility planning in those areas that produce a Local Transport Plan, where local transport planners and others work together to examine accessibility needs
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and how to overcome barriers. Accessibility planning is currently being piloted and various accessibility indicators are under consideration.
Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how he will ensure that new housing development in the Thames Gateway, Essex area will meet (a) flood resistance standards sufficient for the Association of British Insurers and (b) high standards of design. [152432]
Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recognises the importance of ensuring that new housing development in the Thames Gateway meets flood resistance standards. All new housing is subject to compliance with Planning Policy Guidance Note 25 on 'Development and Flood Risk'. Furthermore, projects that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is funding in the Thames Gateway are required to undertake an appropriate Flood Risk Assessment and consult with the Environment Agency where there is a potential risk of flooding. Officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are also meeting with the Association of British Insurers to discuss flood management issues.
To ensure that new housing development meets high standards of design, Planning Policy Guidance Note 1 on 'General Policy and Principles' requires that "good design should be the aim of all those involved in the development process and should be encouraged everywhere". This policy is supported by our good practice guidance 'By Design'. Projects that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is funding in the Thames Gateway have been selected against thematic objectives, one of which is "to implement a consistent policy of quality design". The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has also increased funding for the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), who are launching the Growth Areas Housing Quality Forum in March 2004 to disseminate best practice. Furthermore, the Building for Life award has been developed by CABE, the House Builders Federation and the Civic Trust to reward development that incorporates high standards of design.
Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whether the Thames Gateway area of Canvey Island will receive additional road access before the new housing development planned by the Thames Gateway initiative is completed; [152433]
- (2) if he will instruct the Thames Gateway initiative to carry out a feasibility study on the provision of a new terminus station for Canvey Island. [152434]
Keith Hill: The East of England Local Government Conference, the regional planning body that has jurisdiction for the Borough of Castle Point, is currently preparing a new Regional Planning Guidance for the East of England (RPG14). This will cover growth proposals for the local authority areas in South Essex with respect to housing and jobs. It will also provide commentary on the sub-region's transport infrastructure.
It is therefore open to partners to make representations for improved access to Canvey Island through the Regional Planning process, alongside the identification of locations where development should be supported within the region.
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Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what investigations the Thames Gateway Initiative has carried out into the (a) numbers of vehicle movements (i) on to and (ii) off Canvey Island and (b) road capacity for access to the Island; [152435]
- (2) what investigations the Thames Gateway Initiative has carried out into the (a) number of rail passengers originating from Canvey Island and (b) the capacity of the rail infrastructure. [152436]
Keith Hill: The Thames Gateway Strategic Partnership that I chair has not undertaken any investigation of the number of vehicle movements to and from Canvey Island, nor the capacity of roads that provide access to and from the Island.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has contributed to the London to Southend Movement Study, commissioned in 2003 by the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership. The outcome of this study has yet to be published.
Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning applications for (a) housing and (b) mixed use development in the Thames Gateway, Essex area have been refused since March 2000 on the grounds of poor design. [152437]
Keith Hill: Information relating to the number of planning applications refused in the Thames Gateway since March 2000 on grounds of poor design is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All Local Planning Authorities within the Thames Gateway and elsewhere, are statutorily obliged to keep information relating to the status of individual planning applications within their area of operation.
Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average residential density was of housing developments given planning permission since March 2000 in areas of south Essex which fall within the Thames Gateway. [152439]
Keith Hill: Information relating to the average residential density of housing developments given planning permission in the south Essex Thames Gateway area since March 2000 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All Local Planning Authorities within the Thames Gateway and elsewhere, are obliged to keep information relating to the determination of planning applications within their area of operation.
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