§ Mr. Tom KingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many appeals his Department has received in each year since 1988 involving the refusal of planning consent for the conversion of redundant farm buildings into(a) houses and (b) other uses; when the Department last issued new guidance on this subject; and what plans he has to issue revised guidance. [18301]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe following information has been provided by the Planning Inspectorate. Information is not available for the period before 1990. The data do not reveal whether the appeals related to redundant farm buildings. The number of unsuccessful appeals against refusal of planning permission for conversion of farm buildings to residential use was as follows:
Number 1 January to 31 December 1990 523 1991 419 1992 298 1993 194 1994 198 1995 196 1996 188 1 January to 1 November 1997 88 In 1990 there were 3 unsuccessful appeals against refusal of planning permission for conversion of farm buildings to industrial use. There have been none since.The Government's guidance on the conversion of redundant farm buildings is contained in Planning Policy Guidance note 7 "The Countryside—Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development", which was revised in February 1997. This allows greater discrimination than formerly in favour of re-use for business rather than residential use. There are at present no plans to issue revised guidance.