HC Deb 18 February 1997 vol 290 cc495-6W
Mr. Day

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made on the proposal in the Transport Green Paper "Transport: The Way Forward," to integrate trunk road and land use planning. [16783]

Sir George Young

Following consultation with local authorities, business groups and environmental groups, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I have decided together that trunk road planning in England will now be subject to review under the regional planning guidance—RPG—system, which sets out strategic policies for land use and development and gives guidance on the transport strategy and priorities for each region. Our Departments are publishing today a consultation draft of the planning policy guidance which will bring the new system into effect. Copies have been placed in the Library.

There was strong support for our proposal. It is clear that increased regional input and local consultation at the outset of planning trunk roads will encourage a more focused approach and help to promote an agreed way forward. The proposed new guidance will allow local authorities, for the first time, to include trunk roads in their review of the transport strategy and priorities for their region when advising on RPG.

My right hon. Friend and I shall expect the local authorities to consult widely in preparing their advice to us on RPG. This will give an opportunity for local authorities, business, transport industries, environmental groups and the general public to make fuller contributions to the development of the regional transport strategy, in keeping with our policy on sustainable development. The aim is to obtain as much consensus as possible.

Through this process, the local authorities will be able to propose changes to the broad priorities for trunk road schemes, comment on the need for individual schemes and propose that alternatives be considered, for example traffic management measures or public transport improvements.

Trunk roads are an essential part of the country's infrastructure and final decisions on the DOT road programme will remain my responsibility. I shall continue to take account of vital national, commercial and economic interests alongside the regional advice.