§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies his Department is undertaking to redefine the planning guidelines and other framework provisions which apply when Ministry of Defence land is declared redundant with consequent disposal of the land by that Department. [7913]
§ Mr. RaynsfordMy Department is currently preparing to commission research which will examine the relationship between the planning system; the advice currently provided to Government Departments by the Treasury on the disposal of redundant property; and the need to maximise the disposal value of such property, whilst taking full account of the wider economic and social regeneration considerations. The Government Offices in the Regions and the MOD are together drawing up, and intend to publish, guidelines on the disposal of redundant defence establishments. Our objective is to maximise their potential in order to mitigate the impact of closures on local communities, and to reduce the demand for development on greenfield sites, while at the same time protecting our historic heritage and general environment.