§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what steps he intends to take to ensure that the guidance in PPG3 is complied with following the inspector's decision in the planning appeal concerning Oughtrington Lane, Lymm; [17907]
(2) what steps he intends to take to protect greenfield sites in areas where a council's committed land supply meets or exceeds regional planning guidance requirements; [17909]
(3) if he will make a statement on the implications for urban regeneration in the north-west of the recent decision concerning the planning application at Oughtrington Lane, Lymm; [17908]
(4) what steps he intends to take to protect greenfield sites in north Warrington following the recent appeal decision concerning the planning application for Oughtrington Lane, Lymm; and if he will make a statement. [17910]
§ Ms KeebleWarrington borough council has challenged in the High Court the Inspector's decision in the planning appeal concerning Oughtrington Lane, Lymm. As the appeal is now the subject of a High Court challenge it would not be appropriate to comment further on the matter.
627WThrough Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 "Housing" (PPG3) this Government have introduced a series of tough new measures designed to meet the country's future housing needs in the most sustainable way possible. PPG3 includes a sequential approach which gives priority to re-using brownfield sites in urban areas in preference to developing greenfield sites and we have a national target that, by 2008, 60 per cent. of additional housing should be provided on previously developed land and through conversions of existing buildings.
We expect local authorities to update their development plans to reflect PPG3 and to test all planning applications for housing development against the policies it contains. Local authorities are directed to consult the Secretary of State before giving planning permission for major housing developments on greenfield land allocated in their plans.