New clause 9 - Urgent Crown development
Planning and Compulsory Purchase (Re-committed) Bill
5:00 pm
Mr Keith Hill (Minister of State (Housing and Planning), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; Streatham, Labour)
Let me remind the hon. Gentleman of our earlier debate on proposed new section 293A. Local people will know about proposed developments because they will see notification of the planning application. New section 293A also includes an advertising provision. Subsection (3) deals with applications in connection with such developments, and subsection (8) deals with the provision of documentation. I reiterate that there will be an initial period of three and a half months during which representations can be made.
The hon. Member for Chipping Barnet expressed understandable anxiety about sweeping powers being introduced and the possibility of their being abused. We should remember that the Secretary of State has call-in powers, and that we need the expedited process precisely because it will be needed in situations of national urgency and security. We still expect the whole process to be fairly lengthy—but it will be seven months, not 11. I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's general support for the proposals.
I have dealt with most of the issues that have been raised during this important debate, and I again urge the Committee to support the new clauses.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.