HC Deb 19 October 1999 vol 336 cc520-1W
Mr. Pound

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the regional planning process in London. [94288]

Mr. Hill

The Government is putting in place new procedures for the regional planning process in London. The proposals were outlined in the White Paper "A Mayor and Assembly for London" and are contained in the Greater London Authority Bill currently before Parliament.

The Boroughs will remain the local planning authorities for their areas, but the Mayor will be responsible for drawing up strategic planning guidance in the form of a new Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) for London. The detailed content of the SDS will be for the Mayor to consider but, in general terms, it is expected to address all issues of strategic importance to the capital with a spatial dimension. The SDS will also provide a common spatial framework for all the Mayor's strategies and policies. Borough Unitary Development Plans will be required to be in general conformity with the SDS.

Present strategic planning policy for London is contained in The Secretary of State's Strategic Guidance for London Planning Authorities, and its annexes. This will remain in place until the Mayor produces the first Spatial Development Strategy.

The Mayor must also have a means of intervening in the development control process where issues of genuine strategic importance are concerned. The Mayor will therefore become a statutory consultee for planning applications of potential strategic importance. The Mayor will also have the power to direct a Borough to refuse planning permission for these cases where he or she considers this necessary on strategic grounds. The criteria for applications that will be notified to the Mayor were announced by my hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford) on 15 March 1999, Official Report, columns 472-74, and will now be taken forward into secondary legislation. The Government will be carrying out further consultation on the draft secondary legislation associated with the Mayor's planning role shortly.

The Mayor will also be responsible for representing London's interests on broader strategic planning matters, including at the regional level.