§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish his Department's research into the effectiveness of implementation of PPG3 and on the progress made by local authorities in carrying out urban capacity studies; and if he will make a statement. [82456]
§ Mr. McNultyThe intention of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is to publish the research by Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners on assessing the implementation of PPG3 as soon as possible, however the timing is dependent on satisfactory completion of the report. 90 per cent, of unitary authorities and district councils responding to the questionnaire survey forming part of this research had, by spring 2002, completed an urban housing capacity study or had one in preparation.
122W
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (l)what assessment he has made of(a) partnership working between counties in cross-border policy making on PPG3 issues and (b) the effectiveness of regional planning bodies in facilitating this; and if he will make a statement; [82461]
(2) whether his Department's review of the effectiveness of the implementation of PPG3 includes, assessment of how sensitively possible conflicts with PPGs 15 and 16 have been resolved in practice; [82462]
(3) what consultations his Department is having as part of its research into the effectiveness of implementation of PPG3; and whether these consultations include contacts with (a) English Heritage and (b) the DCMS with regard to the impact of urban infill on the historic environment and heritage of cities. [83267]
§ Mr. McNultyThe research for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners on assessing the implementation of PPG3 has
(i) considered cross-boundary working between planning authorities in the context of planning for sub-regional housing markets and the distribution of previously-developed land. The research has found evidence of improvements in joint working since PPG3 was published but also a number of difficulties. The research points to a number of options for addressing these and highlights the important role to be played by our proposed regional spatial strategies.(ii) found that protection of the historic environment has been the basis for refusals of planning permission for residential development.(iii) included a postal survey of local planning authorities, housing departments, house builders and regional development agencies. This survey has been supplemented by in-depth interviews with a number of organisations across the English regions with first-hand experience in planning for housing. The research team has not discussed the impact of urban infill on the historic environment and heritage of cities with either English Heritage or the DCMS but this matter has been raised by others.