HC Deb 02 December 1997 vol 302 c109W
Mr. Tom King

To 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. Raynsford

The 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.