HC Deb 30 July 1997 vol 299 cc408-9W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce statutory time limits for the planning process; and if he will make a statement. [11070]

Mr. Raynsford

Article 20 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 already specifies the time periods within which planning decisions should be taken and we have no plans to amend this aspect of the legislation. The responses to my Department's recent consultation paper on development plans confirmed the difficulty of setting a statutory timetable for the development plan process which would be appropriate to all authorities. However, certain parts of the process are already subject to time limits and we are considering the scope for extending this. We are also looking at the possibility of requiring authorities publicly to set target timetables for the adoption of their plans, for which they would be accountable locally.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he proposes to improve the procedures involved in taking planning decisions. [11069]

Mr. Raynsford

We are currently considering what steps might be taken to speed up the planning process and will be announcing our conclusions in due course.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the number of changes of use that occur within use categories in planning terms. [10880]

Mr. Raynsford

Under section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, changes of use within individual use classes are not development, do not require planning permission and are therefore not recorded.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will allow objectors the right of appeal in planning matters. [10879]

Mr. Raynsford

We have no plans to extend the right of appeal to third parties in planning cases. It is for elected local authorities to act in the general public interest when determining planning applications. Planning legislation already provides extensive opportunities for members of the public and interested organisations to comment on both draft development plans and individual planning applications.