§ Baroness Perry of Southwarkasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to amend the system of development plans prepared under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)The "plan-led system" requires each district planning authority to have an area-wide local plan or unitary development plan. We set a target, which was agreed with local authorities, of getting a substantial majority of those plans prepared, debated and formally adopted by the end of 1996. The results of the most recent monitoring survey show that 62 per cent. of authorities expect to have adopted their plan by the target date. This shortfall is disappointing.
We have been concerned at the length of time which it is taking some authorities to adopt their plan. We consulted earlier about possible changes to speed up this process. The response was lukewarm about radical change, but it supported change which could be achieved within the scope of existing legislation.
Already the Planning Inspectorate have introduced more concise reports on local plan inquiries and a system of service agreements with local authorities on their likely length and cost.
My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is proposing further changes which can be brought into effect quickly, with the publication of proposals to amend both the Code of Practice on Development Plans and the Development Plan Regulations. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
In addition, we are not ruling out further changes, including measures which will require legislation, if these should be desired by the users of the development plan system. My department will shortly be writing to interested organisations about this wider discussion.