§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether planning permission is required by those seeking to organise war games(a) on their own land or (b) on open land.
§ Mr. YeoThe Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 grants planning permission for the temporary use of any land outside the curtilage of a building for war games, for up to 28 days in any calendar year. Use for more than 28 days requires specific planning permission.
The consultation paper "Planning Controls over Sites of Special Scientific Interest", issued on 13 March, proposes additional safeguards for SSSIs including the withdrawal of permitted development rights for war games. This consultation paper was announced in my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) on 13 March.