Clause 21
Planning Bill
12:45 pm
Jim Fitzpatrick (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport; Poplar and Canning Town, Labour)
The hon. Gentleman raises concerns with regard to the scope of clause 21. Specifically, he wishes to exclude tramways and guided transport from the types of project that the IPC will consider. We are sympathetic to his points. Those types of development are often limited to a specific locality. That is why the Department for Transport is exploring the potential to devolve them to local authorities to determine. Guided transport, including trams, is currently considered by the Secretary of State using the Transport and Works Act 1992. We will be consulting on and devolving those powers to local authorities as part of the sub-national review consultation that I mentioned in our discussions on highways.
With regard to clause 21, however, the Government are currently considering the scope of the types of railway development that should be included in the Bill. In doing so, I am happy to take on board the hon. Gentleman’s concerns, and will come back to him and the Committee on Report, possibly to include a suitable Government amendment to address categories such as light rail, which would be separate. I hope that, with that assurance on both those areas being examined either on Report and/or through the sub-national review that we have mentioned, he will feel able to withdraw his amendment.