§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of his Department's paper on the general development order, he will make a statement on the requirement to obtain planning permission for any structure required for the keeping of horses and other animals on land of less than five acres.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe proposal canvassed in my Department's consultation paper, issued in January, to which my hon. Friend refers, involved a suggestion that "permitted development" rights be introduced into the Town and Country Planning General Development Order for the use of up to two hectares of land for keeping horses for recreational purposes, but not for the erection of buildings. As at present, the erection of buildings specifically for this purpose would normally require planning permission. There has been a wide variety of responses to this and other proposals in the consultation paper, and my right hon. Friend will be glad to consider any comments on this proposal which my hon. Friend may wish to make.