§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require local authorities to publish their urban capacity reports. [140904]
§ Ms Beverley HughesForthcoming good practice guidance to local authorities will advise authorities to take account of the views of interested parties and potential users in preparing urban housing capacity studies. It is expected that local authorities will publish these studies and the guidance will advise them to do so.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which local authorities in Hampshire have completed an urban capacity study. [140905]
§ Ms Beverley HughesHampshire County Council undertook a co-ordinated urban capacity study for the whole of the county in 1998 for the County Structure Plan. Since then five authorities have completed their own urban capacity studies and a further six have studies which are under way.
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§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instruct local authorities not to identify any reserve sites for new building until all authorities in a planning region have completed urban capacity studies. [140903]
§ Ms Beverley HughesOur planning guidance for housing (PPG3) states that all local authorities should undertake urban housing capacity studies. They should take account of such studies in updating their local plans. All sites proposed for housing development should be tested against the policies set out in PPG3.