§ Mr. Tom KingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what timetable he proposes for the revision of planning guidance and the publication of the discussion papers, advice and research referred to in paragraph 93 of "Planning for the Communities of the Future" (Cm 3885). [33825]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Government hope to issue a consultation draft of a revised PPG3 by the summer recess. We hope to publish the discussion paper on regional targets before we consult on the draft revised PPG3. The Department intends to issue a discussion paper on monitoring indicators during the Spring, with a view to incorporating the results in a draft PPG3 which we hope to issue for consultation by the summer recess.
With regard to research, the following timetable applies:
mixed uses and housing in town centres—we hope to let this imminently and to publish by Spring 1999;density—publication should be by April 1998;economic instruments—research seminars on planning obligations are to be held shortly and the results will be reported to Ministers thereafter;land assembly—this issue will be examined as part of two projects—the mixed use one mentioned above and a project on land pooling which we hope to commission in April;land use database—the first stage of this, incorporating a national assessment of previously developed land and buildings available for housing, will be available by January 1999. A timetable for the remaining stages, extending the database to other land uses, will be clarified over the course of the coming year.