HC Deb 28 June 1989 vol 155 c490W
54. Mr. Colin Shepherd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many district councils in England have not yet completed their district plan and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chope

Figures for November 1988 show that 243 of the 296 non-metropolitan districts in England do not have local plans on deposit or adopted which fully cover their areas. Planning policy guidance note 12 urged authorities to extend local plan coverage, and current indications are that most authorities intend to complete draft plans for the whole of their districts within the next two years. The proposals set out in "The Future of Development Plans" (Cm. 569) will ensure that these plans can, where appropriate, be incorporated into the new district development plans which all authorities will be required to prepare.