ACS

PRESS RELEASE
23 February 2010

Conservatives' Commitment to Reinstate Planning Need Test Welcomed

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the commitment in the Conservative Planning Green Paper to reinstate the ‘need test’ and tighten up restrictions on harmful out of town retail development.

The abolition of the ‘need test’ by the Government in the publication of Planning Policy Statement 4 in December has been criticised by many for loosening the reins on large format out of town and edge of centre supermarket development. The test helped to indicate where a proposed store would take away trade from existing town and secondary retail centres and undermine their viability.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman: “We welcome the commitments made in this Green paper. The removal of the need test was backward step in retail planning policy that are vital to the unique identity of our town centres. Much of the new PPS4 is to be welcomed, but the removal of the needs test was a mistake, and we would like to see the Conservatives, if elected, insert the need test into this policy.

“In order to encourage investment in new retail space at the end of a recession, there will be a strong temptation for councils, under pressure from self interested large developers, to free up out of town development. Government policy should promote retail diversity where there is room for large and small competitors, specialist retailers and independently owned stores.

“This announcement is an indication that politicians are listening to the concerns of local shops and is another milestone in a long running ACS campaign to ensure that the planning system is fit for the future challenges facing retailers and communities.”

Contacts:

Shane Brennan Public Affairs Director
01252 533009/ 07921 372978

Chris Noice Communications Assistant
01252 533013

Notes to Editors:

1. ACS (Association of Convenience Stores) is the voice of local shops, representing over 33,500 convenience stores. ACS helps local shops thrive through lobbying, support and networking opportunities.

2. The Conservative Party’s Open Source Planning Green Paper states (p19)

Retail development

John Gummer, when Environment Secretary in 1996, put in place planning rules on out-of-town retail development in order to prevent town centre decline (so-called ‘PPG6’). As a result, local councils can reject proposals for new supermarkets and retail development outside towns.

The Labour Government has now changed national planning rules on retail development (through a document called PPS4) and has scrapped the ‘needs test’, which requires developers to prove the need for additional out-of-town development. The needs test gives local authorities an important power to control out-of-town development and allows them to focus regeneration and development on their local high streets.

We will undo Labour’s changes to planning rules which have weakened councils’ ability to stop unwanted out-of-town development. We will ensure that a needs test is readopted, and will enable local councils to take competition issues into account when formulating their local plans.

3. ACS has campaigned for the retention of the need test taking part in policy consultations on the issue in 2008 and 2009. ACS also gave expert evidence to the Communities and Government Select Committee on this matter leading to the influential report of MPs criticizing Government policy on ‘need’.

4. ACS commissioned ‘Retail Diversity’ from the University of Stirling and the report was published in February 2010. The report stresses the need for a more robust approach to defining, protecting and promoting diversity in High Streets, commissioned research into the importance of promoting and protecting retail diversity.