HL Deb 03 February 1999 vol 596 cc207-8WA
Baroness Hamwee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many directions have been made by the Secretary of State under Article 14(1) of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 (SI 1988/1813) since 1 May 1997; and how many directions were made in the equivalent period prior to that date. [HL727]

Lord Whitty

From 1 May 1997 to 31 December 1998, some 536 directions were made under Article 14(1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995*. In the equivalent period prior to 1 May 1997 (1 September 1995 to 30 April 1997), some 506 directions were made. (The latter figure does not include directions made in the SW Region or in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire or Oxfordshire in the SE Region prior to 1 April 1996, or in respect of applications referred under departure and retail directions in the London Region, for which information is not available.)

* Article 14(1) of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 was replaced by Article 14(1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 (SI 1995/419).

Baroness Hamwee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many planning applications have been called in for decision by the Secretary of State since 1 May 1997; and how many applications were called in during the equivalent period prior to that date. [HL728]

Lord Whitty

From 1 May 1997 to 3 December 1998, my right honourable friend called in some 246 planning applications. In the equivalent period prior to 1 May 1997 (1 September 1995 to 30 April 1997), some 228 applications were called in. (The latter figure does not include any applications called in the SW Region in September 1995, for which information is not available.)

Baroness Hamwee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there has been any change in policy since April 1997 with regard to the use of directions under Article 14(1) of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 (SI 1988/1813) and to the calling-in of planning applications. [HL729]

Lord Whitty

There has been no change in policy since April 1997 in the use of directions under Article 14(1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 or in the calling in of planning applications.

It remains the policy that use of Article 14 directions and of the power to call-in applications should be used sparingly.