I am today laying a Departmental Minute to advise that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has received approval from Her Majesty’s Treasury for a remote contingent liability for the Department arising from Ebbsfleet Development Corporation’s (EDC) investment in the Ebbsfleet Central site.

As part of the 2014 Budget, the Government announced plans to create a new garden city – the first in over a century – at Ebbsfleet, North Kent. The Government also established the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation – a statutory body which reports to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to bring forward the development of the Garden City.

The Ebbsfleet Garden City will help provide new homes and support wider economic growth across the Thames Estuary.

The Departmental Minute describes the remote contingent liability DLUHC will incur in relation to EDC entering into an indemnity with HS1 Ltd. The remote contingent liability will remain for the short time that the works will be ongoing and will cease to exist once the occupiers of the land have signed off the works.

The Department will fund any expenditure should any claims be brought forward against EDC, through the normal Supply procedure.