§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the reasons for normally allowing costs to be awarded against the applicant in planning applications rejected by both the local planning authority and also at appeal but not usually in cases where a planning application involves green belt land where the application is called in; and what plans he has to change this policy.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the importance to Her Majesty's Government's policy of sustainable development of protecting green belt land from further development.
§ Mr. CurryParagraph 2.10 of the draft revision of the proposed new planning policy guidance note 2 on green belts, which was issued for public consultation on 21 February, proposes that when drawing green belt boundaries in development plans local planning authorities should take account of the need to promote sustainable patterns of development. There is a presumption against inappropriate development within a green belt.
We are analysing the responses made to the PPG2 consultation document.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what agencies within his Department oversee the management and development control of green belt land.
§ Mr. CurryThe Secretary of State carries out his planning functions relating to the control of development in green belts with assistance from his planning policy division, Government offices in the regions, arid the planning inspectorate.