HC Deb 22 July 2004 vol 424 cc553-4W
Sir Sydney Chapman

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made since January 2004 with accessibility planning pilot projects and the development of accessibility indicators; and what plans he has to produce further guidance on how to incorporate community infrastructure projects, including schools, hospitals and open space, into masterplans and other spatial plans for the Thames Gateway.

Keith Hill

The Department for Transport completed the eight accessibility planning pilots in April 2004. Six core accessibility indicators have been agreed, which include access to education and health care (two indicators each) and access to jobs and major retail centres. Each English Local Transport Authority outside London will report against these indicators as part of their next Local Transport Plan. The indicators and the findings of the pilots will also inform the development of planning policy guidance. In addition the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is developing an accessibility indicator for local planning authorities, as part of their annual monitor reporting requirements under section 35 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

The Government will shortly be publishing policy guidance in respect to Regional Spatial Strategies (Planning Policy Statement 11) and Local Development Frameworks (Planning Policy Statement 12) which will apply in Thames Gateway as elsewhere. In particular, the latter will set out guidance in respect to masterplans and other forms of area action plan, explaining how local planning authorities should adopt a spatial approach to development which incorporates the need for community infrastructure including schools and hospitals.

In the Thames Gateway the Government will also be issuing guidance to local delivery vehicles that are currently being established in priority development areas. This guidance will focus on the development of sustainable communities in line with the principles set out in "Sustainable Communities: building for the future", including the need to work with relevant local service providers to plan for the delivery of schools, healthcare provision and good quality public spaces alongside housing growth.