The '''Silkin Test''' is a UK planning policy designed to control major developments which will affect areas classified as National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The three main criteria state that - #it must be in the National interest; #there is no practicable alternative to development in a National Park; #must be built in a way that minimises detrimental effects on the environment.<ref> {{cite press release |title = Environmental conditions placed on South Wales pipeline |work = Department of Trade and Industry (National) |publisher = Government News Network |date = 7 February 2007 |url = http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=262409&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927191325/http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=262409&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False |archivedate = 27 September 2007 }} </ref>
The test was contained in Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas (formerly PPG7)<ref> until August 2004 the test was contained in its precursor - Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) 7: The Countryside – Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development.</ref> PPS7 has now been replaced by the National Planning Policy Framework (2012), in which paras. 115/116 set out a differently-worded test.
==History== The criteria were first proposed by the then Minister of Town and Country Planning, Lewis Silkin MP in 1949.<ref> {{cite journal | last = Brotherton | first = D I | authorlink = | title = The evolution and implications of mineral planning policy in the national parks of England and Wales | journal = Environment and Planning | volume = A21 | issue = 9 | pages = 1229–1240 | publisher = | location = | date = 1989 | url = http://www.envplan.com/abstract.cgi?id=a211229 | doi = 10.1068/a211229 | url-access = subscription }}</ref>
==Notable applications== *South Wales Gas Pipeline (2007)
==See also== *Lewis Silkin, 1st Baron Silkin *Sandford approach (1976) *Waldegrave formulation (1987)
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:United Kingdom planning policy