HC Deb 29 April 1986 vol 96 cc389-90W
Mr. Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many planning applications have been submitted to planning authorities in England in each year since 1975;

(2) how many planning applications in England have gone to appeal in each year since 1975, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of planning applications for each year.

Mr. Tracey

The information, so far as it is available, is set out in the following table:

Planning applications and appeals—England 1975–1985
(a) (b) (c)
Applications received* Appeals received (b) as percentage of (a)†
1975 11,690
1976 11,656
1977 10,833
1978 11,609
1979 ‡583,000 12,990

(a) (b) (c)
Applications received* Appeals received (b) as percentage of (a)†
1980 527,000 16,208 3.1
1981 450,000 16,637 3.7
1982 399,000 13,900 3.5
1983 429,000 13,699 3.2
1984 427,000 16,192 3.8
1985 431,000 17,053 4.0
* Statistics for planning applications received were not collected before April 1979.
† Applications received in one year may not result in an appeal until the following year.
‡ Relates to the financial year 1979–80 (see also *).

Mr. Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications have been granted at appeal on the stated grounds of consistency with circular 14/85, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of successful appeals, since the circular was published.

Mr. Tracey

This question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications from the borough of Basingstoke and Deane have been granted at appeal on the stated grounds of consistency with circular 14/85, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of successful appeals in the borough, since the circular was published.

Mr. Tracey

Since circular 14/85 was published on 24 July 1985, 59 appeals have been decided following planning applications to Basingstoke and Deane borough council. The advice in circular 14/85 was cited in nine of the 32 cases in which the appeal was allowed (about 28 per cent.); and in a further eight cases in which the appeal was dismissed.