§ Mr. Formanasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider setting a time limit to planning applications for new motorway building.
§ Mr. William RodgersSo long as there is an underlying need to provide a road along a particular route, it would not help property owners for a motorway scheme to lapse after a specified period. Owners whose property is directly affected by a scheme can require my Department to acquire their properties under planning blight arrangements. The Department also has the discretion to acquire properties that may be needed in the future where the owner will otherwise suffer severe financial hardship.