Mr. Andy StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to issue further policy guidance about planning agreements, as envisaged in the White Paper "Releasing Enterprise."
§ Mr. HowardMy right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Wales have today issued a consultation paper seeking views on proposals to amend section 52 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 and on draft guidance to local authorities about the proper limits of their statutory development control powers.
The three proposed legislative changes are: to enable a developer to give a unilateral undertaking to carry out certain works or to do whatever the undertaking specifies; to make provision for a planning agreement or unilateral undertaking to be discharged when its planning purpose has ceased; to enable the Crown to enter into section 52 agreements.
The proposed draft guidance substantially reaffirms, with some amendments, the guidance given in this Department's circular 22/83. (Welsh Office Circular 46/83.)