§ 23. Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he will take to ensure that planning authorities abide by approved and current local structure plans. [14864]
§ Mr. RaynsfordSection 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requires that, where the development plan contains relevant policies, applications for development which are in accordance with the plan shall be allowed unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Applicants have the right of appeal against any decision by the local authority not to grant planning permission.
Under the Town and Country Planning (Development Plans and Consultation) Direction 1992, local planning authorities are required to notify the Secretary of State of planning applications for specified types of development which do not accord with the development plan currently in force, where they propose to grant permission. This enables the Secretary of State to consider whether to call in such applications for his own determination.
We have recently consulted on draft revised Directions and improved guidance for local planning authorities, and will issue a final version as soon as possible.