§ Mr. J. A. Osbornasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that much new housing development is now being given Town and Country Planning approval without local residents, who are most affected by this approval, being aware that such approval has been given; what steps he will now take to ensure that major applications are adequately advertised, before being considered by the appropriate authorities; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CorfieldUnder Article 14 of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order, 1963, every local planning authority is required to keep a register of all planning applications made to them and the decisions given. Section 19(5) of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962, requires that every such register shall be available for inspection by the public at all reasonable hours.
In Circular No. 21/61 dated 17th May, 1961, the attention of local planning authorities was drawn to the desirability of arranging for publicity to be given to certain planning applications. I think that though it remains, of course, a matter for their discretion major proposals are normally advertised. Of course the question what constitutes a major proposal is inevitably a matter of opinion, but I do not think that any further advice from my right hon. Friend is needed.