Greg Clark
Main Page: Greg Clark (Conservative - Tunbridge Wells)
Nigel Adams (Selby and Ainsty) (Con)
21. What guidance his Department has issued to the Planning Inspectorate on planning appeals concerning onshore wind farms.
The Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Greg Clark)
The Planning Inspectorate has received the same advice as local authorities: the Government’s commitment to abolish the regional spatial strategies, including the targets for renewable energy, can be taken into account as a material consideration in planning decisions.
Nigel Adams
Has the Planning Inspectorate been instructed to take into account the views of local residents, campaign groups and communities during the appeal process?
Greg Clark
As I suggested, the Localism Act 2011 abolishes top-down imposition and releases local communities to have their say, and with the new planning framework it will be unambiguously clear that it is local communities that do things their way.
John Pugh (Southport) (LD)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con)
T5. Communities across north Yorkshire are being hassled, bullied and, in some cases, bribed by wind developers that are carrying out scoping exercises. Following the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Selby and Ainsty (Nigel Adams), will the Minister confirm that the revised national planning policy framework will give communities, such as those in north Yorkshire, the absolute final say on where wind farms should be situated?
The Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Greg Clark)
The problem at the moment is that there is imposition from the regional strategies. We are getting rid of that. We take the view that if communities are involved in decisions, there can be a far better outcome than if planning decisions descend on them from above.
Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (Lab)
Erskine is a charitable organisation in my constituency that provides work for and looks after disabled ex-service personnel. Unfortunately, due to the current financial difficulties, it is struggling to compete with the private sector. Will the Secretary of State meet representatives from Erskine to explore how local or central government procurement processes could be used to help these poor soldiers?
Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth) (Con)
T8. As a result of poor contractual arrangements set up by the Labour Government, the East of England Development Agency has received bonuses of more than £250,000, despite it being scrapped. Does the Minister agree that local enterprise partnerships are already showing that not only are they less bureaucratic, but they give a much better return on public investment?
Greg Clark
They certainly are. The local enterprise partnership in my hon. Friend’s constituency is chaired by Andy Wood of Adnams who, without any bonus, gives fantastic leadership from the private sector to a very successful local enterprise partnership.
Simon Danczuk (Rochdale) (Lab)
Everybody knows that Rochdale is the birthplace of co-operation and has been at the forefront of retail innovation. Once again, it has the potential to create a fantastic town centre. Does the Secretary of State agree that Rochdale is right to work towards being a Mary Portas pioneer?