Thames Gateway (Hansard, 8 January 2004)

§ Sir Sydney Chapman
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what initiatives are in place to improve professional planning and regeneration skills and capacity in order to deliver his plans for the regeneration of the Thames Gateway; and when the Government expect these initiatives to yield a major improvement in the availability of such professional skills and capacity. [146465]

§ Keith Hill
Improving the skills of planning, design and regeneration professionals will take time and will require the long-term commitment of a wide range of public, private and voluntary organisations.
As part of this process Sir John Egan is currently undertaking a review of the professional skills required, to deliver the strategic objectives of our Sustainable Communities Plan. We are currently awaiting the outcome of this review. The conclusions of Sir John's report will be used to inform our longer-term strategic approach vis-a-vis the development of professional planning, design and regeneration skills as these relate to the built environment in the Thames Gateway and elsewhere.
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Through our Sustainable Communities Plan, we have earmarked £17.0 million over the next three years, in order to improve the quality of skills associated with the Built environment. Of this the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) have received an initial allocation of £ 1.6 million to carry out a specific programme of skills related work. The experience and best practice developed as part of this work will be used to inform our longer-term strategic approach.

§ Sir Sydney Chapman
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the Government will ensure that new housing developments in the Thames Gateway meet high standards of design. [146466]

§ Keith Hill
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to improving the quality of the built environment in the Thames Gateway and elsewhere. To ensure that this happens, Planning Policy Guidance 1 (PPG 1) "General Policy and Principles" requires that "good design should be the aim of all those involved in the development process and should be encouraged everywhere". This policy is supported by our good practice guidance, "By Design". We are currently in the process of updating PPG1 and will take this opportunity to restate our commitment to good quality and sustainable design.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working with a wide range of partners to deliver this through a number of policy initiatives. Our Sustainable Communities Plan is central to achieving this and the comprehensive agenda this sets out includes significant extra funding for the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). This will be used to drive up design standards and to improve associated skills.
We have increased funding for CABE from £0.5 million in 2002–03 to £17.75 million over the next three years. CABE are currently working with a range of key partners to ensure that strategies comprehensively incorporate robust requirements for good design. For example, CABE, in partnership with English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation, are scheduled to launch the Growth Areas Housing Quality Forum in March 2004. The Forum will bring together representatives from all key agencies involved in commissioning and procuring new housing, including local authorities, development agencies, mortgage lenders and landowners and will encourage the active participation of private sector house builders and Registered Social Landlords.

§ Sir Sydney Chapman
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning applications for housing or mixed use development in the Thames Gateway have been refused since March 2000 on the grounds of poor design quality. [146467]

§ Keith Hill
Information relating to the number of planning applications refused in the Thames Gateway since March 2000 on grounds of poor design is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All local planning authorities within the Thames Gateway and elsewhere, are486W statutorily obliged to keep information relating to the status of individual planning applications within their area of operation.

§ Sir Sydney Chapman
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government has for local planning authorities in the Thames Gateway to adopt specific quality criteria for housing and other developments; and what role the Government has in encouraging planning authorities to adopt such criteria. [146468]

§ Keith Hill
Planning Policy Guidance 1 (PPG1) "Planning Policy and Principles" requires that "good design should be the aim of all those involved in the development process and should be encouraged everywhere". This policy is supported by our good practice guidance "By Design". PPG1 also encourages Local Planning Authorities to draw up their own clear policies vis-a-vis the built environment and to prepare supplementary design guidance where appropriate. In preparing local policy and/or guidance, Local Planning Authorities are expected to take full account of any regional guidance that may impact upon their area of operation. For example, London Authorities would need to take account of guidance/criteria contained within the London Spatial Strategy.
To this end, we have no plans at this stage to issue any specific quality criteria for housing and other developments in the Thames Gateway.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently in the process of updating PPG1 and will take this opportunity to restate our commitment to achieving good quality and sustainable design vis-a-vis the built environment.