§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to bring the use of razor wire in non-military establishments under the jurisdiction of the planning authorities. [70243]
§ Mr. RaynsfordIt is for local planning authorities to decide whether the use of razor wire in particular cases constitutes development requiring planning permission. In some circumstances, development involving the use of razor wire may be carried out in the exercise of permitted development rights granted by the Town and Country156W Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. In such cases, it would be for the local planning authority to consider whether to withdraw those permitted development rights by giving a direction under article 4 of the Order. However, we advise in Circular 9/95 that permitted development rights should be withdrawn only in exceptional circumstances.