HC Deb 20 December 1982 vol 34 cc372-3W
Mr. McKelvey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money has been raised from the introduction of charges for planning applications for each of the years since 1980.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Fees for planning applications were introduced in April 1981. In England, income for 1981–82 was £21.5 million: income for 1982–83 will not be known until after the end of the financial year.

Mr. McKelvey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the administration of charges for planning applications has cost local authorities since their introduction.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Fees were introduced in April 1981. The administration costs to local authorities have been estimated to be of the order of £2 million per annum.

Mr. McKelvey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reduction in the number of planning permissions has taken place as a result of charges in the general development order since 1979.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The number of planning decisions issued by local planning authorities in England fell from 517,973 in 1979–80 to 406,756 in 1981–82 though the proportion of applications permitted has remained at about 86 per cent. over the last three years. We have no statistical evidence to show how far changes in the General Development Order have contributed to the reduction.