Written question asked by Anthony Steen (Conservative) on Monday, 11 January 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 14 January 2010. It was answered by Lord Austin of Dudley (Labour) on Thursday, 14 January 2010 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Planning Permission: Totnes

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will direct the local planning authority to conduct an environmental impact assessment in respect of planning application 52/1442/09/F Rowes Farm Development, Aish Road, Stoke Gabriel, Totnes.

Answer: Officials in the Government office for the south west carefully considered this matter following a request from a third party to overturn the local planning authority's decision that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) was not required to accompany a planning application for development proposed at Rowes Farm, Stoke Gabriel.The proposed development was not considered by the Government office as likely to have significant environmental effects such as to merit an EIA, even though the proposals involved land in an area of outstanding natural beauty and thus a 'sensitive area' under the terms of the relevant regulations, A letter sent on 12 January informed the third party and was copied to the local planning authority.

Secondary information