§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Royal Parks Agency is exempt from planning law; and, if so, whether they will take steps to ensure that any exemptions are now removed. [HL855]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyAs a Crown body, the Royal Parks Agency enjoys Crown immunity and in most cases does not require planning consent from the local planning authority for development of its own land.
The Government are committed to the removal of this exemption for Crown bodies, and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions will be taking this matter forward when an opportunity in the legislative programme arises.
Crown bodies do, however, follow the parallel procedure set out in Department of the Environment Circular 18/84, which requires consultation with the local planning authority before proceeding with development which would otherwise require planning permission; any unresolved objections from the authority would be referred for resolution to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.