XN000022-1995-05-24 — Page 26

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Nevertheless urban renewal is a complex issue both technically and emotively as it affects groups in the community whose interests do not always coincide and yet must somehow be reconciled. First, the community as a whole clearly has an interest in improving the urban environment and in ensuring that obsolete buildings are redeveloped to make the best use of land to supply the housing, open space, recreational and community facilities, shops and workplaces we need. Second are the property developers who have a commercial interest in redevelopment and without whose financial resources and expertise many urban redevelopment projects would not happen at all. Finally, and perhaps most important, are the many people whose homes and workplaces are to be affected by redevelopment. No urban renewal policy which is to have any chance of winning acceptance in the community can ignore their interests.

The complexity of the issues involved has caused the review to take more time than we would have wished. But I must reject the allegation in the Motion that the Administration have employed delaying tactics. It would not serve the Administration's interest in delaying this important matter. It is simply that the complex and difficult issues take time to address and require us to proceed carefully. The Administration have indeed have to devote a considerable portion of staff resources to examine the issues in detail. I am nevertheless pleased to say today that our review is now substantially complete after a long series of consultation within the Administration and with the agents involved in urban renewal. We shall soon be ready to consult outside the Administration, including Members of this Council and the many groups with an interest in the subject.

Although we would still need to finalise a number of details, I would like today to describe some of the main ideas and concepts which the Administration have been developing and which we think would offer a way forward on urban redevelopment in future. I must stress that these are not yet policy proposals but rather suggestions which we believe will set the direction of policy on this issue.

I would like to begin by drawing Members' attention to the scope of the problem. This can be broken down into four fundamental aspects which any urban renewal strategy has to address:

First, site assembly. Developed land is almost always occupied by existing buildings in multiple and fragmented ownership. Before redevelopment can happen, all the separate property interests often literally hundreds - must be acquired;

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Second, relocation of residents and businesses in the affected area. This is perhaps the most difficult problem of all and the one with the greatest human consequences;