Communities minister Ian Austin has refused to speculate on how long examination of alternatives to the sprawl proposals in the draft South West regional spatial strategy will take, although he said additional work on sustainability appraisal of "reasonable alternatives" will be completed early in the New Year.
In Commons written answers he told shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman the additional work will cover alternatives to the areas of search for strategic housing, business and other development introduced as a result of the communities secretary's proposed changes to the RSS.
"In the South West, the removal of green belt protection is only proposed to accommodate strategic developments explicitly proposed in the regional spatial strategy," he told her.
"The effects of green belt changes will therefore generally be the same as the effects of the developments, and they will be appraised together."
He said the Government Office for the South West has written to councils advising them of the weight to be attached to the proposed changes.
He said it is not presently possible to specify the nature, duration or timescale of any further consultation on the strategy.
