Written question asked by Caroline Spelman (Conservative) on Wednesday, 6 June 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 June 2007. It was answered by Ruth Kelly (Labour) on Friday, 15 June 2007 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Prisons: Planning Permission

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what planning guidelines apply to the expansion of prisons; and in what circumstances they have permitted development rights.

Answer: Local planning authorities have been encouraged to make adequate provision for new prison developments through the planning system by means of DETR Circular 03/98 ““Planning for Future Prison Development””. For extensions to existing prisons, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has access to the permitted development rights in Part 34 (Development by the Crown) of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (SI 1995 No 418 as amended). The main restrictions to the permitted development right are that any extensions may not exceed 25 per cent. of the cubic content or 1,000 square metres of the floor area of the existing building (reducing to 10 per cent. of the cubic content or 500 square metres of the floor area in certain sensitive landscape areas and conservation areas). NOMS may also use other general permitted development rights for minor works.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 141875; 461 c1343W
Session: 2006-07
Notes: Columns in printed daily part are numbered two columns ahead of columns on Hansard Online. Column numbers on PIMS refer to Hansard Online
Subjects: Planning Prisons Permitted development rights
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk