§ Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek to curtail the period of granting a licence for planning permission to a time limit of two years; and when he will do this.
§ Mr. MacCollPlanning authorities already have power to do this in suitable cases, but they have been advised—rightly in my view—to exercise the power with discretion. My right hon. Friend can see no advantage in limiting every planning permission in this way. The holder of an expiring permission would either make a token start on the development in272W order to perpetuate the permission, or apply for a fresh one, which could rarely be refused.