§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to assist local planning authorities in delivering more sustainable patterns of development. [64150]
§ Mr. CabornIn October my Department issued a guide to local planning authorities entitled "Planning for Sustainable Development: Towards Better Practice". This document has been well-received as a source of practical ideas about how sustainability principles can be implemented on the ground.
My Department's series of Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPGs) advise local planning authorities on how they should draw up their plans to ensure more sustainable patterns of development. We intend to issue shortly a new draft PPG11 on regional planning guidance. This will advise the regional planning bodies that the promotion of sustainable development should be a central feature of RPG. Moreover, we will also shortly be issuing a full revision of PPG12 (Development Plans) for public consultation. This will include a section devoted to the relationship between the content of development plans, for which local planning authorities are responsible, and sustainable development.