Archived press release

Government bows to Asda pressure over massive supermarket expansions

21 October 2003

Moves to prevent supermarkets massively expanding without planning permission have today (Tues Oct 21) been rejected by the Government. Planning Minister Yvette Copper threw out the amendment to the Planning Bill put forward by Friends of the Earth's, despite it receiving wide cross-party support.

The amendment [1] would have closed a loop-hole in the current planning laws which allow supermarkets to double in size without planning permission by adding internal floors and sales areas, creating a substantial growth in traffic to the store [2] and having economic impacts on local retailers.

Asda has already used the legal loop-hole in York and Sheffield stores (currently under construction).

The Sheffield store expansion (33,000 square feet) is specifically for non food items, significantly changing the nature of the store and threatens the viability of local retailers. Asda intends to expansion at 40 stores sites around the country.

Friends of the Earth planning specialist Hugh Ellis said:

"It is disgraceful that the Government has bowed to supermarket pressure. It is an area where clear law is urgently required as current planning guidance is failing to control these massive expansions."

"If the Government doesn't accept this crucial amendment supermarkets will be able to double their sales areas without any reference to residents or shop keepers. Local people will then suffer the environmental and economic consequences. This glaring loop-hole in the planning system must be closed".

Yvette Cooper's claims that planning control over additional floors and similar internal expansions could be achieved by placing conditions on planning consents through changes to planning guidance [3] was attacked by all parties.

In the cases in York and Sheffield and a current one in Stafford, Planning Authorities have been powerless to act and local communities have been denied the right to intervene because the developments do not require planning permission.

The amendment was tabled by Lib Dem MP's, Ed Davey and Matthew Green, but was dismissed at the Bill's Second Reading Committee Stage today.

The Government also rejected a further amendment to the Planning Bill to introduce additional protection for local retailers threatened by massive supermarket developments (proposed by Andrew Turner MP (Conservative).

Notes

[1] Amendment to Planning and compulsory purchase Bill 2003 to control the extension of retail premises by increasing the internal floor area.

1. Amendment to Planning and compulsory purchase Bill 2003 Part 4 Development Control (c.45) `Miscellaneous'

1) In the principle Act after section 55 Part III (meaning of development) subsection (2A), there is inserted -

"(2) The following operations or uses of land shall not be taken for the purposes of this Act to involve development of the land-

(a) the carrying out for the maintenance, improvement or other alteration of any building of works which -

1. affect only the interior of the building, or
2. do not materially affect the external appearance of the building
3. do not materially increase the overall retail sales floor area of the building by more than 10% and are not works for the making good war damage or works begun after December 5 1968 for the alteration of a building by providing additional space in it underground;"

[2] Asda have already reported increased traffic using their expanded York store - European Retail 3 March 2003.

[3] Planning Policy Guidance 6 which is due to be reviewed shortly.

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