§ Sir Peter EmeryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his Department's planning guidance on the size of new settlements. [35834]
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesThe objective of planning policy is sustainable development. The planning guidance on new settlements contained in both PPG3 and PPG13 points out that a reasonable degree of self-containment, thereby avoiding reliance on the use of private cars, can often be a feature of larger settlements. The community's daily needs, such as employment, schooling and shopping, should mostly be available locally and within easy reach. Therefore, the location of such settlements should seek to maximise existing or potential public transport links.
However, the context of new settlements is also important, and smaller settlements may form part of a wider network that offers benefits comparable to larger settlements. New settlements should therefore be designed to reflect local circumstances, including the patterns of towns and villages in an area. Smaller new settlements may be appropriate where they address both issues of context and sustainability.
When we come to revise PPG13, we shall be making this clear. Meanwhile, the planning system will be operated to ensure that, should new settlements be proposed, the judgment will be made on the context and the need for sustainable development. In the right circumstances, this may well mean that the establishment of a small new community of even a few hundred may be the best answer.