Environmentalists, house-builders and the Conservatives last night urged the government to implement the proposals outlined by the Urban Taskforce quickly.
The Taskforce has made over 100 recommendations including the creation of urban priority areas in run-down areas, streamlined planning processes, tougher compulsory purchase powers and tax breaks to encourage people to move into the areas.
Lord Rogers’ team also suggested developers be allowed to defer corporation tax when buying brownfield sites and be offered capital allowances for site reclamation and converting space above shops into flats. The Taskforce has also called for environmental impact fees while rejecting greenfield taxes.
Recommended incentives for urban priority areas include a special council tax rate, a reduction in stamp duty on house purchases, tax relief on home contents, and business rate reductions for small retailers.
But The Financial Times warns that if urban regeneration is to work the government will have to implement most of Lord Rogers recommendations. But it is not yet clear whether ministers will provide the necessary legislative changes and the extra public spending to implement the Taskforce’s proposals
The Times reports that deputy prime minister John Prescott has appeared to back away from his commitment to ensure 60% of new homes get built on brownfield sites.
Financial Times 30/06/99 page 1, page 10, page 23 (Editorial Comment), page 25
The Daily Telegraph 30/06/99 page 11, page 27 (Editorial Comment)
The Guardian 30/06/99 page 17 (Editorial Comment)
The Times 30/06/99 page 1, page 8, page 23 (Leading Article)
The Independent 30/06/99 page 1, page 7, page 3 (Review), page 1 (Wednesday Review), page 3 (Wednesday Review)
