§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What criteria the Secretary of State for the Environment has adopted for calling in planning applications to which there is substantial local objection or substantial expert objection. [HL439]
§ Lord WhittyMy right honourable friend's policy is not to interfere unnecessarily with the jurisdiction of local planning authorities. He is therefore very selective about calling in planning applications and will generally take this step only if planning issues of more than local importance are involved. In deciding whether to call in an application, my right honourable friend will take into account all the relevant circumstances in each individual case, including the volume and nature of any objections.