§ Mr. Alex Carlileasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals for the introduction of planning regulations which would enable local authorities to control the siting of gun shops; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. WaldegraveNo. Local planning authorities have power to control the siting of a gun shop if a development proposal entails either erecting a new building or making a material change of use of an existing building. A proposal to sell guns from a building already used for one of the purposes in class A1 of the schedule to the Use Classes Order 1987, Shops, would not require planning permission. The development control system is concerned with land use planning matters and not with the use to which goods may be put once sold.