HC Deb 12 July 1999 vol 335 cc15-6W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the objectors to the Portsmouth Millennium Tower Transport and Works Act 1992 application; what discussions he has had with them; and on what grounds. [90418]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The outstanding objections to the Portsmouth Millennium Tower Transport and Works Act application are from Railtrack, the Portsmouth Society, the Gosport Society and three private individuals. Their objections concern the appropriateness of locating the proposed Tower in Portsmouth Harbour, the environmental and economic impacts of the scheme, and the need to protect the pier supporting Portsmouth Harbour railway station. No discussions have been held with the objectors.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons he has postponed making a decision on whether to hold a public inquiry into the Transport and Works Act application for Portsmouth Millennium Tower. [90966]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The Secretary of State has deferred his decision on whether to hold a public inquiry into this application at the request of the applicants, Berkeley Festival Waterfront Company Ltd., who intend to submit some amendments to their scheme. An informed decision on the appropriate procedural route can best be taken after the details of the amendments are known and interested parties have had the opportunity to consider and comment on them. This would also help to avoid the risk of potentially abortive work being undertaken on the basis of the present proposals.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a decision on the Transport and Works Act application for the Portsmouth Millennium Tower before the planning application for the tower has been considered by the local planning authority; and if he will make a statement. [90965]

Ms Glenda Jackson

Where a Transport and Works Act (TWA) Order is applied for, the promoters may either ask the Secretary of State to grant deemed planning permission at the same time as making an Order, or they may (as in this case) apply separately to the local planning authority for planning permission. In the latter situation, the Secretary of State would not make a TWA Order unless the works the subject of that Order had received planning permission.