HC Deb 10 July 2002 vol 388 cc1004-5W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent guidance he has given to the Planning Inspectorate regarding the weight to be given to health fears; in how many appeals this has been a determine factor in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [67781]

Mr. McNulty

Current planning guidance on telecommunications is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (revised) (PPG8). PPG8 states that health considerations and public concern can in principle be material considerations in determining applications for planning permission and prior approval. Whether such matters are material in a particular case is ultimately a matter for the courts. It is for the decision&-maker (usually the local planning authority) to determine what weight to attach to such considerations in any particular case.

However, it is the Government's firm view that the planning system is not the place for determining health safeguards. It remains central Government's responsibility to decide what measures are necessary to protect public health. In the Government's view, if a proposed mobile phone base station meets the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines for public exposure it should not be necessary for a local planning authority, in processing an application for planning permission or prior approval, to consider further the health aspects and concerns about them.

Planning Inspectors should take account of PPG8 when considering appeals involving telecommunications development. Information is not held centrally about appeal decisions for mobile phone masts.

Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister to which level of authority he plans to give structure planning powers upon their removal from county councils where the unitary authority is a county. [67190]

Mr. Raynsford

Under the proposals in the Planning Green Paper structure plans are to be abolished. In areas where the unitary authority is a county, it would be responsible for preparing a local development framework.

Mr. John Taylor

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will introduce a restraint on the numbers of sequential planning applications which a developer may submit to a planning authority in respect of the same property; how many recent representations he has received on this subject; and if he will make a statement. [68116]

Mr. McNulty

Local planning authorities already have powers to decline to determine an application for planning permission if, within the previous two years, the Secretary of State has refused a similar application called in by him, or has dismissed an appeal against the refusal of a similar application, provided in each case there has been no material change in circumstances. The Planning Green Paper said that we propose to extend these powers to allow local planning authorities to decline to determine applications where a similar application has been refused and not appealed, or a similar application is still under consideration by them, or is at appeal, or has been called in.

We received over 16,000 responses to the Green Paper. We intend to make a statement about taking forward Green Paper proposals before the summer recess.