§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he is issuing to local councils to encourage more planning applications to be decided locally with fewer appeals to him.
§ Mr. MoynihanWe advised in planning policy guidance note 12 on local plans (issued in November 1988) that where decisions are supported by clear, up-to-date local plans, consistent with national and regional policies and with the relevant provisions of the structure plan, together with specific and relevant reasons for particular decisions, local planning authorities should find those decisions far less susceptible to successful appeal. The guidance note urges them to extend their coverage of local plans and confirms that the Secretary of State and his inspectors will be guided by relevant local plan policies when making their decisions on appeals. This advice has been welcomed as building greater confidence in the planning system and helping to reduce the volume of appeals.
This message was repeated in the draft planning policy guidance note on structure plans and regional guidance which was issued for consultation in November. We are currently considering responses and will be issuing final guidance shortly.