§ Mr. EnnisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will consult on proposed changes to the planning appeals system as part of the Government's Modernising Planning Initiative. [54978]
§ Mr. CabornI have today issued a consultation paper, and I have placed copies in the Library of the House, on our proposals for recovering the cost of holding inquiries into planning appeals as part of our drive to modernise the planning system. If implemented, this will provide the Planning Inspectorate with some additional resources to benefit the appeals system as a whole.
Costs would be recovered by means of a standard daily rate for all public local inquiries, although they would not be recovered where their imposition appears unreasonable.
Recovery of costs is already established practice for other public inquiries into development proposals covered by the Electricity Act 1989, the Harbours Act 1964 and the Transport and Works Act 1992. This change would, therefore, also bring about greater consistency in inquiry practice.
Subject to public consultation, it is proposed that this change would take effect from April 1999. It would not apply to planning applications and appeals received by the Planning Inspectorate before that date.