§ Mr. Nicholas BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to require local planning authorities to pay the costs of appeals by applicants against their decisions that are upheld.
§ Mr. ChopeThe Department's circular 2/87 makes clear that costs may be awarded following a public local inquiry if any party to a planning appeal is judged to have acted unreasonably. The Government have no plans to alter the basis for awarding costs.