§ Sir Sydney ChapmanTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities in the Thames Gateway have completed an urban capacity study; when the most recent one in each local authority area was completed; and which of these studies were undertaken according to the best practice guidance set out in "Tapping the Potential", December 2000. [185819]
§ Keith HillUrban capacity studies for local authorities in the London part of the Thames Gateway have been undertaken as part of larger London-wide capacity work. The latest London-wide urban housing capacity study was undertaken by the London Planning Advisory Committee in 1997 and published by the GLA in 1999. The approach taken by the London Planning Advisory Committee in their study informed the methodology for urban capacity studies set out in the Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: "Tapping the Potential document".
All four local authorities in the Kent part of the Thames Gateway are signed up to Kent County Council's protocol for producing urban capacity studies, which is in line with the methodology set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3. Gravesham Borough Council published their urban capacity study in 2000, Dartford Borough Council in 2002 and Swale Borough Council in 2003. Medway Council expect to complete their urban capacity study later this year.
Each of the urban capacity studies carried out by local authorities in the Essex part of the Thames Gateway were undertaken in line with Planning Policy Guidance Note 3. Rochford Borough Council completed their urban capacity study in 2001, and plan to review this in the latter half of next year. Urban capacity studies for Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and Thurrock Council were completed in 2003. Both Basildon and Castlepoint completed urban capacity studies in 2004.