§ Lord McCarthyasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will issue guidance to local planning authorities on how they can use their planning powers to help prevent dereliction. [HL256]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Baroness Hayman)We have, today, published Circular (02/98), which provides guidance to local planning authorities on the practical measures that they can take to help prevent land in their area becoming derelict.
The circular also brings local planning authority's attention to new regulations, the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Regulations 1997(SI 1997/3006). These give powers to local 238WA planning authorities to place a charge on land in order to help them recover the costs incurred in clearing sites under the derelict land provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1990.
We believe that local authorities and developers will welcome these regulations and the advice in the circular as positive measures to help prevent and tidy up derelict sites.