§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the introduction of public policy planning guidance on housing; and what advice has been issued to councils on responding to this guidance. [4311]
§ Ms KeeblePlanning Policy Guidance Note 3 (PPG3) was published in March 2000. Since then, a series of good practice guides has been issued to help local authorities implement its new approach to planning for housing. We expect local authorities to update their development plans to reflect PPG3 and to test planning applications for housing development against the policies it contains.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the definition of previously-developed land in Annexe C of the PPG3 guidance is to be applied uniformly throughout the country. [4418]
§ Ms KeebleThere are various definitions of previously-developed land in use. For the purposes of applying the policies in PPG3 the definition of previously-developed land given in annexe C should be used.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the advice given to councils on withdrawing greenfield sites earmarked for housing development where no planning permission exists and where that withdrawal is in line with PPG3. [4417]
§ Ms KeeblePPG3 introduces a new approach to planning for housing which, for most authorities, will mean their development plan will require early review and alteration in respect of housing. The most effective way of removing greenfield allocations from a plan that does not reflect the policies in PPG3 is through a formal alteration to the plan.