§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will deposit in the Library copies of the responses to the Planning Green Paper. [49889]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 15 April 2002]: I will place a list of respondents in the Libraries of the House. Because of the large number involved, over 14,000, copies of the responses will be made available for public inspection in my Department's library once they have been analysed.
§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will assess the(a) advantages and (b) disadvantages of including demolition as part of the planning process. [48840]
§ Ms KeebleDemolition of buildings is already part of the planning process. Generally speaking, the demolition of non-residential buildings does not constitute "development" (as defined in section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990), and consequently no planning permission is required. However, the demolition of a residential building does constitute development for which a permitted development right has been granted by Part 31 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. This means that, instead of having to submit an application for planning permission for the demolition of a residential building, a developer has to apply to the local planning authority for a determination as to whether prior approval is required for the proposed method of demolition and any proposed restoration of the site. Planning authorities also have powers——subject to approval by the Secretary of State——to require planning applications for demolition of residential property, where amenity would be seriously threatened.
In addition, listed building consent is required for the demolition of any listed building, and conservation area consent is required for the demolition of an unlisted building in a conservation area.
We are considering whether to introduce any changes to the existing demolition controls as part of our current review of the planning system and in taking forward work arising from the Government's Heritage Statement "The Historic Environment: A Force for Our Future".
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§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make it his policy to require planning permission for buildings as part of the planning process; and if he will make a statement. [48841]
§ Ms KeeblePutting up a building usually amounts to "development", for which planning permission is required. However, Parliament has granted a general planning permission or "permitted development right" to carry out certain types of minor development without the need to submit an application. This removes a large burden of unnecessary planning work from local authorities.