You signed a petition asking the Prime Minister to "condemn Redbridge
Council's land sales programme."

The Prime Minister's Office has responded to that petition and you can
 view
it here: 

http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page15239.asp

Prime Minister's Office

Petition information - http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/LBRlandsales/


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Lbrlandsales - epetition reply10 April 2008

We received a petition asking:

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to condemn Redbridge Council's land sales programme."

Details of Petition:

"Residents of the London Borough of Redbridge are deeply concerned at the Council's land sales programme, which aims to raise £100-£150 million through selling off Council land for development. Sites being sold include popular local allotments and other open spaces, well-used car parks that are vital for local shopping centres, as well as other Council property. The consequential damage to the local environment, community and economy will be impossible to reverse if the Council's programme goes ahead. Decisions on the future of these local assets are being taken behind closed doors and with the minimum of public consultation."


Read the Government's response


Local authorities have powers under the Local Government Act 1972 to dispose of land in any manner they wish and it is the Government's policy that local authorities should dispose of surplus land wherever possible. Generally it is expected that local authorities' land disposals should achieve the best consideration reasonably obtainable which is usually the open market value of the site. The Secretary of State's only statutory function is to give or refuse consent to a proposed disposal where the authority will receive less than the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained. 

Guidance on local authority land disposals is contained in ODPM Circular 06/2003, "Local Government Act 1972: General Disposal Consent 2003". The consent enables local authorities to make land disposals which will contribute to the promotion or improvement of the economic, social or environmental well-being of an area at less than best consideration provided the undervalue does not exceed £2,000,000. If the proposed disposal was not covered by the general consent the local authority would have to apply to the Secretary of State for a specific consent.

Planning Policy Statement 3 Housing also says that local planning authorities should have clear policies for the protection and creation of open space and playing fields, and new housing developments should incorporate sufficient provision where such spaces are not already adequately provided within easy access of the new housing. 

A local authority proposing to dispose of open space, which includes land laid out as a public garden or used for the purposes of public recreation, must give notice in a local newspaper and consider any objections received. When carrying out land transactions local authorities should always act reasonably and with due regard to their general fiduciary duty to their taxpayers. 

Local authorities wishing to dispose of statutory allotments must obtain consent from the Secretary of State (via the Government Offices) for Communities and Local Government. They may only be sold if the Secretary of State gives her consent and such decisions are not taken lightly. 

The Redbridge Unitary Development Plan (UDP) is currently being replaced by the emerging Local Development Framework (LDF). This document will only permit the redevelopment of allotments where it can be shown that there is no longer any local demand or where existing allotment users can be relocated to a new or existing allotment site within reasonable distance of their homes. The UDP also states that the loss of allotment land will only be permitted if the loss would not result in the Borough falling below the national minimum standard or where as a result of the proposal residents would be more than 1.2 km away from an allotment site. Only if the allotments were no longer required would other uses be allowed and these would be expected to be compatible with the character and amenity of the area.