Planning (Hansard, 7 September 2004)

§ Bob Russell
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will req#ire a start on works to activate a time-limited planning approval to represent at least a quarter of the development; and if he will make a statement. [186980]

§ Keith Hill
Under section 56 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, a variety of works is held to constitute the start of development. A material change of use of land may also indicate that development 1175W has started, provided the change is related to the development. There are no plans to amend the law in the manner suggested.

§ Bob Russell
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the minimum requirement of works commenced is for a time-limited planning approval to be activated; and if he will make a statement. [186981]

§ Keith Hill
The activities that may indicate that a planning permission has begun to be implemented include: any work of construction; demolition of a building on the site; the digging of a trench to contain foundations; the laying of any underground main or pipe to the foundations; laying out an access road; and any material change in the use of the land. The full list is in section 56 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

§ Mr. Liddell-Grainger
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the revised Planning Policy Guidance, PPG22, on renewable energy will be published; and if he will make a statement. [186557]

§ Keith Hill
Planning policy statement 22 (PPS22) on renewable energy was published on 9 August 2004. Copies of the document are available in the Libraries of the House and have been sent out to all planning authorities in England.

§ Mr. Bellingham
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) when the Government will publish good practice guidance for local authorities and developers on the planning obligations; [187150]
(2) when the Government plan to issue a revised circular on planning obligations. [187175]

§ Keith Hill
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister aims to publish a Good Practice Guide on planning obligations in early 2005, alongside a new circular on planning obligations. A draft of the new circular is to be issued for consultation in the autumn.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also continuing work on developing proposals for an optional planning charge, so that decisions on implementation can be made in the context of the Chancellor's decision on a Planning Gain Supplement at the end of 2005.

§ Jim Knight
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities have conducted n#eds assessments on sport, recreation and open space facilities as required by Planning Policy Guidance Note 17. [187383]

§ Keith Hill
PPG17 was published in July 2002. An assessment of its implementation and effectiveness will be undertaken as part of the normal policy review process within five years of publication.
The collection of regular statistics on the implementation of specific national planning policies could be attained only at disproportionate cost. However, Government offices do scrutinise statutory development plans for compliance with national policies before these plans are adopted.
Under the new planning system local development frameworks must be supported by an evidence base comprising data such as that required by PPG17. Where 1176W this evidence falls short of such a requirement, inspectors could rule al public examination that the plan did not meet the test of soundness. Subsequently authorities' annual monitoring reports which will report upon policy performance, will also provide a mechanism by which Government offices can assess whether PPG 17 requirements continue to be met.