Planning
The retail planning system has come under increased scrutiny recently following pressure from large retailers and interest from the Treasury in how to improve economic effectiveness in the UK, resulting in the Barker Review of Land Use Planning. For the last 10 years the Government has pursued a town centre first policy, through Planning Policy Statement 6 (PPS6), which aims to focus development in town centres and ensure they are vibrant and diverse. The Barker Review, published at the end of 2006 called for the planning system, and PPS6 to be liberalised, making it easier for out-of-town superstores to be built. One particular recommendation from Barker was to remove the ‘need’ test for new retail development, which ensures that new out-of-town supermarkets have to prove there is a need for the development, and that it will not harm the town centre.
Since the publication of the Barker Review there has been a heated debate about the future of the town centre first policy, and the need for a strong planning system. In May 2007 the Government published the Planning White Paper, which incorporated many of the Barker Review’s recommendations. This White Paper will make wide ranging changes to the planning system especially for national infrastructure projects such as power stations.
For retail planning the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has suggested replacing the ‘need’ test with a new impact test that includes the effect of the new store, social and environmental impacts. There will be a separate consultation on this test from the end of September.
ACS is campaigning for a strong impact test that takes into account the wide range of effects that a new planning application will have on the town centre. We are working closely with the DCLG on developing the new test and what measurements it should include. The DCLG expect to finalise changes to the planning system in spring 2008.
ACS is also calling for planning officers to be given greater resources to deal with what are often extremely complicated planning proposals. We believe there should be regional groups of planners specifically trained in dealing with retail planning applications to rebalance the difference in resources between the large supermarkets and planning authorities.