Planning Minister Keith Hill today announced the publication of the long-awaited planning policy statement PPS6: Planning for Town Centres.
The key aims of PPS6 are to apply what Hill described as a “town centres first” approach:
- Focusing development in town centres to promote their vitality and viability.
- To enhance consumer choice with a wide provision of shopping, leisure and local services to meet the needs of the whole community.
- To ensure development is accessible by a range of means of transport.
- To encourage investment in disadvantaged areas to provide improved services.
- More employment opportunities and initiatives to combat social exclusion.
- The promotion of high quality and inclusive design.
- The efficient use of land in town centres to deliver more sustainable development.
Hill said PPS6 should ensure town centres are the focus for development which provides a range of services in an environmentally friendly context.
“In the past, out-of-centre development has been eroding the vitality of towns, sometimes resulting in social and economic decay. Well-planned towns will attract visitors and investors and can help combat social exclusion,” said Hill.
He added: “PPS6 will drive the renaissance of towns and cities, large and small, in rural and urban areas. We want to see a sustainable mix of development which enhances consumer choice and meets the needs of the entire community.
“We can already see successful examples of town centre revival, in large centres such as Manchester and smaller ones like Walsall.
“I urge local authorities all over the country to work with their communities and the private sector to deliver the right developments in the right place and to plan actively for the future of their town centres.”
PPS6 is part of a package of Government measures to promote town centre revival.
References: EGi News 21/03/05
