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BCSC: concern over planning

 


Retail property planners and developers raised serious concerns over proposed changes to the planning system at the BCSC conference in Manchester today.


 


 


Despite unanimous support for the Government’s intention to streamline the planning process through the introduction of a new National Planning Policy Framework, BCSC members have raised concerns over the commitment to a town centre first principle and the position of planning in the Localism agenda.


 


 


Ian Anderson, senior director of planning at CB Richard Ellis, has called for the wording on town centres first to be bolstered to defend the principle from out-of-town interests, and to avoid the spectre of planning through the courts.


 


 


The current draft NPPF only calls for a town centre approach ‘where practical’ which the BCSC said it had consistently asked to be strengthened.


 


 


Martin Perry, director of retail property development at Henderson Global Investors, hit out at the Localism Bill at the conference, describing it as a “frightening concept for developers”.


 


 


He said there was a clear conflict between Localism and the Government’s plan for a private sector recovery.


 


noella.pio.kivlehan@estatesgazette.com


 


For more on the BCSC visit our special focus.


 


 


 

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