§ Mr. ThomasonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to issue for public consultation the revised text of planning policy guidance note 1, "General Policy and Principles". [36689]
§ Mr. GummerI have today issued for consultation our proposals for revising PPG1. The present text of PPG1 was published in March 1992. Its content has been refocused to provide a more strategic commentary on planning policy. More detailed guidance on specific planning issues is given in the other PPGs in the series.
The revised text:
reaffirms the role of the planning system in meeting the needs of a growing and competitive economy;emphasises the contribution of the planning system to achieving sustainable development;identifies ways in which mixed use development can be promoted;updates guidance on design considerations in planning in the light of the Government's quality in town and country initiative;restates the limited circumstances in which it is appropriate to use planning obligations to secure development;explains the operation of the plan-led system; andcontains new sections on the citizens charter and propriety.Comments on the revised draft PPG1 have been invited by 30 September 1996.