§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new guidelines he has issued to Welsh Office inspectors considering planning appeals since June 1987; and if he will state the nature and objectives of such changes.
§ Mr. GristIn considering appeals in Wales, planning inspectors follow guidance issued generally by the Welsh Office in the form of circulars and planning and mineral policy guidance notes. The Department issues no guidelines specifically to the inspectorate.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what grounds a public inquiry into a planning appeal can be reopened, after having been concluded; what are the procedures for permitting the reopening of an inquiry; who is allowed to submit that an inquiry should be reopened; who decides whether or not to reopen an inquiry following such a request; and on how many occasions in the last five years such an inquiry in Wales has been so reopened.
§ Mr. GristWhere an appeal is to be determined by an inspector the current procedures which govern the reopening of the inquiry are contained in rules 17 and 19 of the Town and Country Planning Appeals (Determination by Inspectors) (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1988 (SI 1988, No. 945). The decision whether or not to reopen the inquiry would be taken by the inspector except where a decision has been quashed in proceedings before any court, where it falls to the Secretary of State to direct that the inquiry be reopened, if he thinks fit. In cases where the appeal is to be determined by the Secretary of State the current procedures are set out in rules 16 and 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1988 (SI 1988, No. 944). The decision whether or not to reopen the inquiry would be taken by my right hon. Friend. Welsh Office records of planning appeals do not include information relating to the frequency of the reopening of public inquiries.
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Date Jointly with the Department of the Environment 40/80 Development Control—Policy and Practice 28 November 1980 46/83 Planning Gain 25 August 1983 17/84 Planning Controls over Hazardous Developments 30 March 1984 34/84 Industrial Development 4 September 1984 1/85 Use of Conditions 7 January 1985 3/85 Planning Control over Oil and Gas Operations 15 January 1985 38/85 Development and Employment 16 July 1985 58/85 Guidelines for the Provision of Silica sand in England and Wales 5 November 1985 69/85 Aesthetic Control 10 December 1985 8/86 Development by Small Businesses 20 March 1986 58/86 Policy on Major Retail Developments: Town and Country Planning (Shopping Development) (England and Wales) Direction 1986 18 December 1986 24/87 Town and Country Planning (Use of Classes) Order 1987 6 May 1987 29/87 Disposal of Colliery Spoil 27 July 1987 25/87 Development involving Agricultural Land 8 May 1987 22/87 Development of Contaminated Land 17 August 1987 54/87 Opencast Coal Mining 14 December 1987 1/88 Planning Policy Guidance and Mineral Planning Guidance1 20 January 1988 23/88 Environmental Assessment 12 July 1988
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the general policy guidelines for his Department on town and country planning decisions which may require consideration of whether general economic considerations should overrule phyical and environmental material factors.
§ Mr. GristThe appeal system operates on the basis of considering each case on its merits. Proper attention is paid to national and local policies, as expressed in circulars, planning and mineral policy guidance notes and development plans, but regard is also had to the individual circumstances of the applicant, to the need to give encouragement to small businesses and to the employment possibilities presented by commercial and industrial development proposals. All these factors are carefully weighed before reaching decision.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many inspectors he has within his Department who hear town and country planning appeals; and how many of these are Welsh speaking.
§ Mr. GristFifteen members of the Welsh Office planning inspectorate held public local inquiries; of these two are Welsh speaking.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales in how many instances during each of the past 10 years the Welsh Office has upheld an appeal against a planning refusal in Wales which has involved the construction of more than one house or other domicile; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what dates since May 1979 circulars have been issued by the Welsh Office on the determination of planning applications in Wales; and if he will list the titles and reference numbers, together with date of issue, for all such circulars.
§ Mr. GristThe following list is of extant circulars issued by the Welsh Office since May 1979 which gives advice on the determination of planning applications.
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Date Jointly with the Department of Transport 42/88 Control of Development on Trunk Roads 30 November 1988 61/81 Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas Undated 47/84 Land for Housing in Wales 12 September 1984 30/86 Housing for Senior Management 17 June 1986 53/88 The Welsh Language: Development Plans and Development Control 20 December 1988 1 Since January 1988, the Welsh Office and the Department of the Environment have been issuing policy guidance notes on land-use planning and development control. Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPGs) provide guidance on general and specific aspects of planning policy, while the series of Minerals Planning Guidance notes (MPGs) deals with the control of minerals development.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost of planning inquiries held under section 33 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 to(a) the Welsh Office, (b) local authorities and (c) the applicant.