§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to safeguard the development of new open space in urban areas following recent guidance relating to housing development on brownfield sites. [45714]
§ Mr. RaynsfordOur planning policy guidance already recognises the value of urban open space and advises that planning policies should seek to achieve a reasonable 125W balance between the need to make adequate provision for development and the need to protect open land from development. We will be considering whether we need to strengthen existing guidance in the revising Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 on Housing. In doing this, we will take into account research, which we hope to publish shortly, on the effectiveness of Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 on Sport and Recreation. We are also tightening up planning controls in respect of development of local authority owned playing fields where the English Sports Council advises against the proposals.