§ Mr. Les Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many agreements have been achieved under section 52 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 between landowners, the National Coal Board, and local authorities on an annual basis to the latest convenient date;
(2) if he will list his powers to intervene or override agreements under section 52 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971; and if he will list on an annual basis the number of occasions when these have been used.
§ Mr. Giles ShawSection 52 empowers local planning authorities to enter into agreements with persons having an interest in land for the purpose of restricting or regulating the development or use of that land. My right hon. Friend is not party to these agreements, he maintains no records of them and has no power to intervene in or override them.
It is, however, open to applicants for planning permission, who do not wish to enter into such an agreement, to appeal to him if planning permission is subsequently refused or granted subject to conditions to which the applicant objects. The appeal is then determined on its merits.