§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister which planning guidance notes are to be replaced with Planning Policy Statements; and what the timetable is. [159962]
§ Keith HillThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has gone out to public consultation on revisions to PPG1 (General Policies and Principles), PPG3 (Housing), PPG6 (Town Centres), PPG7 (Countryside), PPG 11 (Regional Planning), PPG12 (Development Plans), PPG 22 (Renewable Energy) and PPG23 (Planning and Pollution) with a view to re-issuing these during 2004 as Planning Policy Statements (PPS). It is anticipated that consultation will begin in the first half of 2004 on revisions to PPG4 (Economic Development), PPG9 (Nature Conservation/ Biodiversity) and PPG 10 (Planning and Waste Management).
The timetable for the review of other PPGs is being considered in the light of the recommendation in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Select Committee's report on the Annual Report 2003 that we should withdraw our stated intention to revise the less controversial PPGs. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister aims to make an announcement on this by the end of March.