HL Deb 11 November 1999 vol 606 cc233-4WA
Lord Rowallan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether a local authority is entitled to refuse planning permission for the erection of a dwelling adjacent to existing stables with no nearby accommodation to permit supervision overnight. [HL4639]

Lord Whitty

The Government's policy on land use planning in rural areas is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG) 7. This states that new house building in the open countryside requires special justification—for example, where it is to enable farm workers to live at or near their place of work. In considering a planning application for a dwelling in the countryside, a local planning authority will need to establish whether it is essential for the proper functioning of the enterprise concerned for one or more persons to be readily available at most times, and the extent to which such matters as protection of livestock from theft or injury may contribute to the need for the dwelling.

Anyone who has a planning application refused has the right of appeal to the Secretary of State within six months of the local planning authority's decision.