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Housing: Hazardous Substances

Volume 463: debated on Monday 23 July 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on separation distances between sites with potential for major accidents and residential areas in common usage among major international comparators; and if she will make a statement. (150808)

The Department has commissioned no research on separation distances between sites with the potential for major accident hazards and residential use.

It is for local planning authorities to determine whether development should be allowed in the vicinity of sites with the potential for major accident hazards.

Local planning authorities are notified by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of a consultation distance around such sites and they must take account of the HSE's advice of the level of risk for any development proposed with this area.

HSE reviews consultation distances around these sites in the light of new information about the risks such sites present, including information obtained by evaluation of accidents in other countries.