§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the practice of some local authorities in insisting that developers pay a cash sum in lieu of parking spaces before planning permission is granted; if he will list the Statutes under which such action is taken; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Graham PageI am aware of the practice whereby local planning authorities may accept financial contributions from developers towards the cost of providing space in public car parks as an alternative to providing parking space on site. They have no power to insist on such contributions. The circumstances in which voluntary payments are appropriate are set out in Planning Bulletin No. 7 and M.H.L.G. Circular 54/67 and 27W were restated in a decision letter dated 10th April, 1968, and published in the Journal of Planning and Property Law 1968 at pages 423–26.