§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the length of time was between local inquiries being completed and the decision from the inspector and the determination by his Department in each case of called-in application since May 2002. [121790]
§ Keith HillThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's target in relation to called-in cases and recovered appeals for which the inquiry closed after 1 April 2002 was to decide 80 per cent. of cases within 24 weeks by March 2003. In the year to March 2003, 142 cases (95.3 per cent.) were decided within 24 weeks.
Of these cases, 37 were in relation to called in applications, 32 of these were made within 24 weeks. The average time taken was 19 weeks.
Five decisions took longer than 24 weeks:
Two decisions in relation to a community care home, The Ridge, Mansfield, Nottingham, one of which was a conservation area consent application (26.8 weeks). Inspector's report received 14.6 weeks after the inquiry closed.
Mixed use development detail and residential, Wolverhampton (24.6 weeks). Inspector's report received 11.4 weeks after the inquiry closed.
Housing development, land to the North of Weetwood Road, Weedon, Northumberland (call in planning application) 37.6 weeks. Inspector's report received 24.2 weeks after the inquiry closed.
Class Al foodstore, non food retail units, petrol filling station. Former Celcon Blockworks Site, Power Station Road, Rugeley, Staffordshire (29.8 weeks). Inspector's report received 17.6 weeks after the inquiry closed.
115W
§ Bob RussellTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether there is a requirement on a local authority to offer to the original owner(a) land and (b) property it has acquired for a development project which is subsequently not proceeded with. [121881]
§ Keith HillThere is no statutory requirement for local authorities to offer surplus land or property back to the original owner when a project is cancelled. They are, however, commended to follow the Crichel Down Rules which are non-statutory guidance primarily addressed to Government Departments, which specify that land that has been acquired compulsorily or under threat of compulsion and is no longer needed by the acquiring body should be offered back to the original owner at its current market value.