HL Deb 16 November 2004 vol 666 cc141-2WA
Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether planning permission is required to demolish a sports facility in circumstances where the land is to be left dormant for five years. [HL4898]

Lord Rooker

Planning permission is not required for demolition of a sports facility. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be considering demolition of sports facilities in the context of our review of permitted development rights. We intend to consult in 2005.

Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the reply by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 4 November (HL Deb, col. 432), how planning policy guidance 17 will protect sports facilities from being demolished. [HL4899]

Lord Rooker

PPG17 sets out the Government's policies for open space, sport and recreation. It provides protection for that land and those facilities which communities need. As a part of this protection, it directs that existing recerational buildings should not be redeveloped for other purposes unless they have first clearly been shown to be surplus to requirements. Authorities are expected to do this by assessing the needs of their population and by auditing existing facilities and the use made of them. PPG17 further advises authorities to use appropriate policies in plans to protect facilities that are of particular value to a local community. This provision could be used to protect individual sites and buildings.

At present demolition of sports buildings does not require planning permission. However, the Government announced on 27 July 2000 their intention to introduce legislation to ensure that planning permission is required for the demolition of sports buildings. When it is enacted, this measure will prevent developers from demolishing sports facilities before the need for them has been tested by the planning process. Therefore it will he a further safeguard to protect sports facilities for which there is a community need.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to consult early next year on the proposal to amend the law on demolition of sports buildings by means of a draft amendment to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.