Strict control of supermarket development was urged tonight by planning minister Richard Caborn.
In a short Commons debate, Caborn said the Government wanted to sustain and enhance the viability of existing town centres.
“In rural areas, this means getting supermarkets in town centres but it also means protecting the village shop.”
Ministers wanted local authorities to develop town centres first, and consider edge-of-town centres next before out-of-centre sites were even looked at.
A recent study showed large foodstores on the edge of market towns could seriously damage the vitality and viability of their centres, said Caborn.
He was replying to Tory David Prior (Norfolk N) who complained about the detrimental effect of large out-of-centre supermarkets on local stores, traffic congestion and employment.
Pointing to five new supermarkets planned for north Norfolk, Prior said planning policy should be tightened to take account of the “full impact” a scheme could have locally.
EGi News 12/03/99
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