To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many housing project developments have been approved in areas of outstanding natural beauty (a) in the first instance by local council planning authorities and (b) on appeal in each of the last three years; how many houses were involved in each project; and if he will make a statement. (306155)

Information is not held centrally on local authority planning permissions for housing in areas of outstanding beauty. The Planning Inspectorate does hold information on appeals but details of whether or not they were in areas of outstanding natural beauty could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.