| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
PPG25
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action his Department intends to take to develop Planning Policy Guidance Note Number 25; and if he will make a statement. [4008]
Ms Keeble [holding answer 13 July 2001]: The Government today published the new Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 25 "Development and flood risk", following the fast-track consultation in February-March this year. It substantially follows the recommendations of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee in their December 2000 report on "Development on, or affecting, the flood plain", and strengthens the guidance that was previously contained in Department of the Environment Circular 30–92, which is now cancelled.
The new PPG makes clear that building should be wholly exceptional in areas of flood plain that are currently undefended or defended to a relatively low standard and thus effectively function regularly as flood plains where water flows or is stored at times of flood.
A risk-based sequential test outlines the appropriate planning responses to levels of flood risk to help to ensure that the problems that have occurred due to inappropriate development in flood-risk areas are reduced in future. This test gives clear priority to the development of areas that are not at high risk of flooding. It is intended to operate alongside the sequential test in PPG 3 "Housing", by which previously developed land is the first choice for housing, and to be consistent with sustainable development objectives in other PPGs.
Application of this test through the development plan system and in the determination of individual applications will require planning authorities and developers to consult closely with the Environment Agency. Applicants will be required to assess the flood risk and impact of their proposals and to incorporate sustainable drainage systems as far as possible. Where flood defences and other mitigation measures are needed because of development, these should be fully funded as part of the development, including the necessary arrangements to maintain them for a 30-year period, after which they will be regarded as public assets and liabilities. The Government are preparing supplementary guidance on flood-resistant construction techniques to enable buildings to cope better with flooding and to recover faster.
The emphasis on looking at flooding on the wider scale of the whole river catchment or coastal cell will be complemented by the initiative on catchment flood
17 Jul 2001 : Column: 94W
management plans being undertaken by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency.
The implementation of PPG 25 will have some impact on construction costs and the running costs of planning authorities and the Environment Agency. However, the events of last autumn have clearly demonstrated that these are far outweighed by the future costs to householders, businesses and a range of public authorities, including local government and the Environment Agency of not adopting it as current policy on development and flood risk.
Mr. Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish new planning guidance on flooding. [4646]
Ms Keeble: The Government today published the new Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 25 "Development and flood risk", following the fast-track consultation in February-March this year. It substantially follows the recommendations of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee in their December 2000 report on "Development on, or affecting, the flood plain", and strengthens the guidance that was previously contained in Department of the Environment Circular 30–92, which is now cancelled.
The new PPG makes clear that building should be wholly exceptional in areas of flood plain that are currently undefended or defended to a relatively low standard and thus effectively function regularly as flood plains where water flows or is stored at times of flood.
A risk-based sequential test outlines the appropriate planning responses to levels of flood risk to help to ensure that the problems that have occurred due to inappropriate development in flood-risk areas are reduced in future. This test gives clear priority to the development of areas that are not at high risk of flooding. It is intended to operate alongside the sequential test in PPG 3 "Housing", by which previously developed land is the first choice for housing, and to be consistent with sustainable development objectives in other PPGs.
Application of this test through the development plan system and in the determination of individual applications will require planning authorities and developers to consult closely with the Environment Agency. Applicants will be required to assess the flood risk and impact of their proposals and to incorporate sustainable drainage systems as far as possible. Where flood defences and other mitigation measures are needed because of development, these should be fully funded as part of the development, including the necessary arrangements to maintain them for a 30-year period, after which they will be regarded as public assets and liabilities. The Government is preparing supplementary guidance on flood-resistant construction techniques to enable buildings to cope better with flooding and to recover faster.
The emphasis on looking at flooding on the wider scale of the whole river catchment or coastal cell will be complemented by the initiative on catchment flood management plans being undertaken by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency.
17 Jul 2001 : Column: 95W
The implementation of PPG 25 will have some impact on construction costs and the running costs of planning authorities and the Environment Agency. However, the events of last autumn have clearly demonstrated that these are far outweighed by the future costs to householders, businesses and a range of public authorities, including local government and the Environment Agency of not adopting it as current policy on development and flood risk.
Second Homes
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) second homes entitled to a 50 per cent. council tax discount and (b) holiday homes for which a business rate is payable in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [4329]
{**con**}{**/con**}
Dr. Whitehead: (a) We estimate that approximately 220,000 second homes (defined as furnished and no-one's main residence) in England were entitled to a 50 per cent. council tax discount as at October 2000.
(b) No estimate is available for the number of holiday homes in England for which a business rate is payable. This is because many holiday homes form part of a larger site, and in many cases it is the site as a whole—rather than individual properties—that is liable for business rates.
Information on council tax and business rate liability in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly of Wales.
Council Tax
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) second homes and (b) other dwellings entitled to the 50 per cent. council tax discount there are in each district and county/unitary authority area; and what percentage they represent of domestic housing stock in each area. [4330]
Dr. Whitehead: We estimate that approximately 220,000 second homes (defined as furnished and no-one's main residence) and 370,000 other dwellings were entitled to the 50 per cent. council tax discount as at October
17 Jul 2001 : Column: 96W
2000. These represent 1.0 per cent. and 1.8 per cent. respectively of the total domestic housing stock in England.
Comparable figures for each district and county/unitary area in England are not available.
Silverhill (A21)
Mr. Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will ensure that the storm drain for Silverhill on the A21 is reconstructed so that it drains into the river below the bypass. [3860]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 16 July 2001]: The Environment Agency, who are responsible for flood alleviation, has not suggested that any work is necessary to the A21 culverts to alleviate the flooding problems in and around Robertsbridge. The Highways Agency has no plans to reconstruct the storm drain at Silver Hill.
Private Finance Initiatives
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the PFI contracts on local authority leisure centres entered into since 1997, indicating (a) the value of the PFI, (b) the name of the successful contractor, (c) those PFIs which have benefited from refinancing arrangements, (d) the value of the benefit accrued to the company concerned and (e) the extent of the clawback. [4533]
Dr. Whitehead: No contracts have yet been signed for central government supported PFI leisure centres. No information is held on PFI schemes funded entirely by a local authority.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) PFI and (b) PPP contracts have been agreed by his Department over the last five years; how many have been satisfactorily completed; and in how many has compensation been (i) paid and (ii) claimed for performance failure. [4599]
Dr. Whitehead: The table provides details of DTLR's PFI and PPP contracts signed in the past five years. It states whether the service is operational, and whether service charge payments have been withheld. Should PFI and PPP contractors fail to provide the contracted service they will not receive the full unitary service charge payment for the relevant month.
| Year contract signed | Name of contract | Status of service | Has part of service charge payment been withheld? |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFI | |||
| 1997 | Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre—Catering | Operational | No |
| 2000 | Highways Agency—A13 "Thames Gateway"(2) | Under construction | n/a |
| 2000 | Vehicle Inspectorate—MOT computerisation | Under construction | n/a |
| 2001 | Highways Agency—Traffic Control Centre | Under construction | n/a |
| PPP | |||
| 1997 | Manchester Metrolink—extension to Salford Quays and Eccles(3) | Operational | No |
| 1999 | Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust | Operational | No |
| 2001 | National Air Traffic Control Services (NATS) PPP | —(4) | n/a |
(2) The A13 Thames Gateway contract has been transferred to Transport for London.
(3) The Manchester Metrolink contract was let by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and received substantial funding from DTLR.
(4) NATS have announced their preferred partner—Airlines Group (British Airways, British Midland, Virgin, Britannia, Monarch, Easy-Jet and Airtours) and is due to let the contract shortly.
17 Jul 2001 : Column: 97W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |