Planning Guidelines (Hansard, 14 November 1996)

§ Mr. Martyn Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what evaluation his Department has made of the capacity of the planning system to absorb a new(a) low impact and (b) permaculture use class into existing guidelines; and what assessment he has made of the advantages of this policy. [3366]

§ Mr. Moss
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from T.W. Stewart to Mr. Martyn Jones, dated 13 November 1996: Mr. Moss has asked me to reply to your question about an evaluation of the capacity of the planning system to absorb (a) low impact and (b) permaculture use class into existing guidelines; and what assessment has been made of the advantages of this policy. The Planning Service has made no such evaluation or assessment. We will, however, monitor the outcome of any evaluation undertaken in the rest of the United Kingdom, and assess what relevance, if any, it may have for Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to review (a) PPG7 and (b) other planning guidance on agricultural and other dwellings in the countryside in order to give greater weight to environmental and social sustainability; and if he will make a statement. [3380]

§ Mr. Moss
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. Martyn Jones, dated 13 November 1996: Mr. Moss has asked me to reply to your Question about a review of PPG 7 and other planning guidance on agricultural and other dwellings in the countryside in order to give greater weight to environmental and social sustainability. PPG 7 does not extend to Northern Ireland. The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland's planning policy for rural areas is set out in the publication "A Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland", published in September 1993, which seeks to give effect to environmental and social sustainability principles, at the same time meeting the needs of a strong dispersed rural community. Copies of this publication are available in the Library. The Planning Service intends commencing a formal review of the Strategy in the year 2000, and in carrying out the review, will take into account guidance available elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
352W

§ Mr. Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research his Department has(a) planned, (b) commissioned and (c) evaluated into the advantages of establishing a permaculture use class within the planning system; and if he will make a statement. [3376]

§ Mr. Moss
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. Martyn Jones, dated 13 November 1996: Mr. Moss has asked me to reply to your Question about research into the advantages of establishing a permaculture use class within the planning system. The Planning Service has neither (a) planned, (b) commissioned nor (c)evaluated any such research. We will, however, monitor the outcome of any research undertaken in the rest of the United, Kingdom, and assess what relevance, if any, it may have for Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research his Department has(a) planned, (b) commissioned and (c) evaluated into establishing practical criteria for assessing sustainable and low-impact developments, with particular regard to rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [3267]

§ Mr. Moss
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. Martyn Jones, dated 13 November 1996: Mr. Moss has asked me to reply to your Question about research into the advantages of establishing practical criteria for assessing sustainable and low impact developments, with particular regard for rural areas. You will be interested to know that the Agency's corporate aim is "to plan and manage development in ways which will contribute to a quality environment and seek to meet the economic and social aspirations of the present and future generations". Sustainability is, therefore, a crucial factor in the determination of planning applications. In addition, in May 1994, the Agency issued detailed illustrated guidance on rural design, in the form of a publication entitled "A Design Guide for Rural Northern Ireland". Copies of this publication are available in the Library. The Planning Service has neither (a) planned, (b) commissioned nor (c) evaluated any such research. We will, however, monitor the outcome of any research undertaken in the rest of the United Kingdom, and assess what relevance, if any, it may have for Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment his Department has made of the advantages of giving additional weight to environmental impact in determining planning restrictions on agricultural buildings. [3362]

§ Mr. Moss
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. Martyn Jones, dated 13 November 1996: Mr. Moss has asked me to reply to your Question about what assessment has been made of the advantages of giving additional weight to environmental impact in determining restrictions on agricultural holdings. 353W The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland's planning policy for rural areas is set out in the publication "A Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland", published in September 1993, which seeks to give effect to environmental impact in determining restrictions on agricultural holdings, at the same time meeting the needs of a strong rural community. Copies of this publication are available in the Library. The Planning Service intends commencing a formal review of the Strategy in the year 2000, and in carrying out the review, will take into account guidance available elsewhere in the United Kingdom. The Planning Service has not made any such assessment. We will. however, monitor the outcome of any assessment undertaken in the rest of the United Kingdom, and assess what relevance, if any, it may have for Northern Ireland.