HC Deb 23 June 1997 vol 296 c381W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action his Department is taking to monitor the disposal of land by other Government Departments for compliance with the terms of local development plans, with particular reference to the National Physical Laboratory site at Teddington. [4587]

Mr. Raynsford

Any Crown body wishing to secure planning permission for land prior to its disposal must apply for permission under section 299 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. As with applications for planning permission from non-Crown bodies, it is for the local planning authority to determine the application. Such determination shall be in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Other than where the matter is expressly referred to the Secretary of State—e.g. under the Town and Country Planning (Development Plans and Consultation) Directions 1992, or on appeal—my Department is not concerned with the specific proposals of other Government Departments to dispose of their land, nor the proposed use of any such land. The National Physical Laboratory is within the London Borough of Richmond, and the Unitary Development Plan policy for the site is for employment uses. We understand that no planning application has been made to the planning authority in respect of the site.

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