HC Deb 20 January 1998 vol 304 cc459-60W
Mr. Miller

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidance to local planning authorities on how they can use their planning powers to help prevent dereliction. [24523]

Mr. Caborn

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 areas from 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 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.

I 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.