§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what recent guidance his Department has issued on consultation on(a) supplementary planning guidance and (b) the change of use of allotments; [30218]
(2) what recent guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the change of use of allotments. [30219]
§ Mr. ByersIn March 1998, my Department issued guidance to local authorities to ensure that the availability of statutory allotments are actively promoted before applications for consent to their disposal are submitted. We have since consulted on draft Planning Policy Guidance note: (PPG) 17, which sets out revised criteria against which applications for consent to dispose of statutory allotments are to be determined. We will shortly be issuing the revised guidance to the Government offices and local authorities.
My Department, in conjunction with the Local Government Association, published: "Growing in the community: A good practice guide for the management of allotments" in June 2001. This guide provides comprehensive advice and good practice for local authorities on all aspects of allotment management. My Department has also recently published "Allotments: a plot holders guide", which provides advice to current and potential allotment plot holders.