§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he plans to amend the relevant Acts to require undertakers to apply to the appropriate local planning authority for planning permission in the same way as all other people;
(2) if he will review section 40 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, which allows development by statutory undertakers to receive deemed planning consent following authorisation by an appropriate Department.
§ Mr. FoxSection 40 is now used only in the case of certain operations of energy statutory undertakers. In other cases, statutory undertakers apply for permission for proposed developments in the ordinary way, unless permission already exists under the general development order. My right hon. Friend will keep the matter under review.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the exemption of Crown land from the development control provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971.
85W
§ Mr. FoxCrown development is exempt from development control, but DOE circular 7/77 sets out corresponding non-statutory procedures.