§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to issue a draft planning policy guidance note on energy and land use.
§ Mr. YeoIn the environment White Paper the Government proposed a joint Department of the Environment/Department of Transport study to look at the relationship between land use and transport and the part planning could play in reducing fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions. The study was commissioned in February this year and should be completed in May 1992. The research findings will feed into planning guidance on the relationship between energy conservation and the location of development.
The Government has published planning policy guidance note No. PPG15 about the preparation of development plans which asks planning authorities to have particular regard to the conservation of resources such as land and energy. That approach has been considerably amplified in annex A to a draft revision combining planning policy guidance notes 12 and 15. issued for public consultation on 4 September.
Draft policy guidance on renewable energy and the planning system is being prepared by officials in the Department of Energy, the Welsh Office and in my Department. I hope to issue a draft for public consultation later this year.