National Parks: Planning Permission
Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Written answers and statements, 2 November 2009
Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance he issues to the authorities of national parks on the procedures to be followed in examining expressions of intent to apply for permission for development within a national park; and if he will make a statement.
Ian Austin (Minister of State (the West Midlands), Regional Affairs; Dudley North, Labour)
I have been asked to reply.
There is no Government guidance on this specific matter. However, Planning Policy Statement 1—Delivering Sustainable Development—encourages local planning authorities in general to take a positive attitude towards early engagement in pre-application discussions. As part of our response to the Killian Pretty Review, we intend to issue for consultation later this year further policy guidance on pre-application engagement.