HC Deb 22 February 1989 vol 147 cc692-3W
84. Mr. Dykes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider new measures to assist local planning authorities to curb excessive building in the outer London boroughs.

Mr. Chope

My right hon. Friend issued new guidance to local planning authorities on 30 November 1988. Planning policy guidance (PPG) note 12 on local plans advises authorities of the importance of preparing and adopting local plans and that wherethe pressure for development and redevelopment is such as to threaten seriously the character of an established residential area which ought to be protected local authorities may include density and other policies in their local plans for the areas concerned, while avoiding undue rigidity. The scale and character of new development inrelation to existing development are material considerations which should be taken into account in deciding planning applications, and the decisions of local planning authorities will be the more secure where the adopted local plan includes policies designed to protect the environmental character of particular localities.

Where local plans are up-to-date and consistent with national and regional policies, their provisions will carry considerable weight and the Secretary of State and his inspectors will be guided by them in dealing with planning appeals.

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