ACS

The Evening Standard last night reported that Communities Secretary Hazel Blears would be including a greater focus on supporting small shops in a consultation on planning guidance likely to be issued this week. The consultation on the guidance document PPS6 has been delayed for many months, and following a lobbying campaign from ACS, environmental groups and planning experts arguing for the strengthening of a town centre first policy and strong restrictions on out-of-town development, Mrs Blears’ comments are encouraging or small stores.

Mrs Blears told the Evening Standard: “Our priority is to ensure we do not see more stretches of the nation's high streets turned into bland "every towns". We need more individuality, more small scale independent shops, and a new spirit of independent enterprise on our high streets."

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman welcomed Mrs Blears’ comments. He said: “For two years now, we have been battling against well-resourced and determined large retailers and developers who would like more scope to build out-of-town stores. Mrs Blears rhetoric is encouraging and we need to see this backed up by the detail of a policy to promote town centres and allow local planning officers to resist new out-of-town developments if that is against the interests of the local community.”

The Government’s consultation on PPS6 is expected shortly.