Archived press release

Government to close planning loophole on store expansion

3 March 2005

Government plans to tackle the uncontrolled expansion of out-or-town retail floorspace have been welcomed by Friends of the Earth. But the environmental campaign group is critical of the length of time it has taken for the Government to tackle the problem.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) announced today that it is consulting on proposals to bring increases in retail floorspace of 200m2 and over under planning control. The move follows concerns that stores are cynically exploiting a loophole in the planning rules by building large `mezzanine' extensions which don't need planning permission.

Ministers have known about the problem of mezzanine development for a number of years, and said it would look at the problem in June 2004. But while it has procrastinated, a significant number of applications have gone ahead. Evidence from existing mezzanine developments already suggests significant impacts when stores are expanded in this way [1].

Friends of the Earth supermarket campaigner, Vicki Hird, said:

"It's crazy that planning permission is required for a garden fence, but not a major development that can destroy a market town. We're delighted that the Government is planning to take action to tackle the uncontrolled expansion of out-of-town developments, but why has it taken so long? While the Government has dithered there has been two years of unchecked superstore growth which has helped wreck town centres and destroy smaller retailers.

"The Government must insist that all mezzanine applications require planning permission, and it should take steps to freeze any new developments until the rules are changed."

Note

1. In 2004, Friends of the Earth surveyed 255 English local authorities and found:

• The majority of respondents (over 80%) said that they are concerned or very concerned about uncontrolled retail expansion;

• Three quarters (75%) said that would welcome new powers to control the internal expansion of retail space;

• 20% of respondents had experienced significant development of retail space by the construction of a mezzanine floor, or the conversion of storage space in the last five years.

Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to tighten planning policy guidance on retailing and commit to town centre development and the diversity of retailing by introducing a cap on retail floor space. in Ireland there is a cap on retail developments over 3,000 square metres. A similar cap exists in Denmark for shops selling daily consumer goods. See press release.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust