HC Deb 23 July 1998 vol 316 cc673-4W
Mr. McLoughlin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planning applications have been called in during each of the last 10 years and how many to date in 1998. [51409]

Mr. Raynsford

The number of planning applications in England called in during each of the last 10 years is as follows:

Year Number
1988–89 117
1989–90 103
1990–91 132
1991–92 140
1992–93 101
1993–94 99

year Number
1994–95 167
1995–96 144
1996–97 139
1997–98 47

Each of the years listed is a financial year 1 April to 31 March. A further 41 applications have been called in between 1 April and 30 June 1998.

Kate Hoey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by total site area the amount of development within the Thames planning area which has been granted permission since February 1997, indicating those developments which(a) did not and (b) did follow the Strategic Planning Guidance. [51730]

Mr. Caborn

Comprehensive information on planning permissions granted by local planning authorities is not held centrally. Whether an individual development accords with the principles and policies set out in Strategic Planning Guidance for the River Thames is in some respects likely in any case to be a matter of interpretation and degree.

Kate Hoey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list his powers and the circumstances in which they are involved with regard to local planning authorities which fail to follow the Strategic Planning Guidance for the River Thames when reaching decisions on planning applications within the Thames planning area. [51729]

Mr. Caborn

The Secretary of State has the power to "call in" planning applications for his own decision. The circumstances in which he would do so are as set out in the answer which I gave my hon. Friend on 7 July 1998,Official Report, columns 469–68. The Secretary of State also has the power to direct the alteration or replacement of all or part of a local planning authority's Unitary Development Plan or the modification of proposals, including where these are inconsistent with Government policy or guidance. The planning authority must determine any application in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.