Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Blackman Excerpts

Thursday 10th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con)]

9. If he will bring forward proposals to increase the powers of local authorities to prevent infill and garden development.

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

15. If he will bring forward proposals to increase the powers of local authorities to prevent infill and garden development.

[Mr Pickles]

Further to the coalition agreement, the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark), who has responsibilities for decentralisation and planning, gave notice to the House that we are changing planning guidance and that we have taken back gardens out of the definition of brownfield land. In addition, we have removed density requirements. The matter is now for local people to decide.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

Matthew Offord is not here, so I call Bob Blackman.

[Bob Blackman]

In Harrow East, the decision to safeguard gardens will be warmly welcomed, but another problem remains: unscrupulous developers whose planning application is turned down by councillors at local level, but who then appeal. What proposals are there to prevent the overturning of local planning decisions on appeal?

[Mr Pickles]

I understand what my hon. Friend is saying. We are determined to ensure that planning remains local, but of course an applicant’s right to appeal against a decision will remain.