The DoE’s decision to block the extension to Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Dudley has helped clarify government planning policy, but experts are still waiting for the outcome of the Hedge End enquiry to confirm the administration’s stance on out-of-town retail.
Colliers Erdman Lewis Director of Planning Craig Blatchford said: “We need to see more than one government planning decision before we decide there is a consistency in the approach to out of town retail. The next key decision is the one on plans to expand Hedge End retail. That will be a further test of the Governments commitment to town centres.”
The Merry Hill decision means any plans to expand existing out of town retail schemes will have to go through existing planning channels, where developers will still have argue their case in terms of impact on town centres.
Mike Straw, senior planner at Richard Ellis, said: “The decision says that Labour will not take a soft approach to out of town development. This is in line with their main priority of regeneration.”
And Tony Kitson, planning partner at Cameron McKenna said: “I dont think anybody realistically expected any lessening of PPG6 restrictions under a new government. Some hope as given at one point by remarks by Keith Vaz, but those remarks have been disowned.”
Straw also believes the Merry Hill decision has implications for existing retail warehouse parks: “There is a situation now where investors and developers are looking to revamp them and apply for open A1 use. But this decision does not bode well for further changes of use from bulky good to high street retail.”
Kitson also argues the decision has significance for leisure developers: “I think the property industry and retail operators are well aware of how to deal with PPG6 and how it may conflict with commercial common sense. But this decision should also send a message to leisure operators who are some way behind retail operators in their understanding of planning restrictions.”
EGi News 04/07/97
