Written question asked by Evan Harris (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 4 November 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 November 1998. It was answered by Nick Raynsford (Labour) on Monday, 9 November 1998 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what responsibilities for consultations Railtrack inherited from British Rail regarding use of permitted development rights. - Includes ref to DOE Circular 9/95: General Development Order Consolidation 1995 and DOE Circular 15/92: Publicity for Planning Application.

Answer: Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what responsibilities for consultations Railtrack inherited from British Rail regarding use of permitted development rights. [58999] Mr. Raynsford: British Rail had no specific responsibilities for consultations regarding the use of permitted development rights. However, guidance for non-statutory consultation with regard to the exercise of permitted development rights by statutory undertakers is set out in DOE Circular 9/95: General Development Order Consolidation 1995, and in DOE Circular 15/92: Publicity for Planning Applications. They make clear that both the local planning authorities and the public should be informed of proposals for permitted development which are likely to affect them significantly, before the proposals are finalised.

Secondary information