Planning White Paper published
The white paper Planning for a Sustainable future is now available on line here (see page 115-116 in particular) along with a consultation document and press release.
Monday, 21 May 2007
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I find the White Paper’s statement about reforming tests of retail need and impact (para 7.55) very unclear. It has been interpreted by various commentators as both strengthening and weakening the current town centres first policy. I wonder whether DCLG has actually worked out yet what it is going to propose. The wording of paras 7.55 and 7.56 indicates yet another compromise between DCLG and Treasury/DTI. Put bluntly, the revised policy will aim on the one hand to ‘promote competition’ and ‘improve consumer choice’, and on the other hand to restrict competition and choice through ‘a strong focus on town centre first’.
This inconsistency is already obvious in PPS6, so maybe things won’t change very much.
I also note that the DCLG’s consultation paper inviting representations on the White Paper
http://www.communities.gov.uk/pub/672/PlanningforaSustainableFutureConsultation_id1510672.pdf does not include the town centres policy as an issue on which comment is specifically invited. But the White Paper promises consultation on the town centre proposals in ‘Summer 2007’. So don’t go on holiday for too long.
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