§ Mr. SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish his strategic guidance for London; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyI have today published the draft strategic guidance for consultation. Comments are invited by 26 May. I hope to publish the guidance in its final form before the summer recess.
The draft sets out guidance on those planning matters which must be dealt with on a Londonwide basis, in order to assist the boroughs to prepare effective unitary development plans for their areas. Its aims are to facilitate development and employment; regenerate rundown areas; maintain the vitality and character of established town centres; sustain the amenity of residential districts; allow for a wide range of housing provision; and accord high priority to the environment by maintaining the green belt and metropolitan open land, and by preserving fine views, conservation areas and surrounding countryside. The draft guidance includes the number of additional dwellings for which each borough should make provision in the 1990s. The proposals take account of the advice put forward by the London planning advisory committee, with the agreement of the boroughs. The boroughs will have discretion in their UDPs to identify suitable locations for housing development and to indicate densities and parking standards so as to ensure that such development can be accommodated without detriment to the local environment.
Copies of the draft guidance have been sent to all London MPs and placed in the Library of the House.