HC Deb 26 July 1985 vol 83 cc891-2W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what priorities he uses in deciding planning appeals relating to superstores.

Mr. Macfarlane

In deciding all planning appeals my right hon. Friend takes into account all relevant considerations, including the policies set out in Circular 22/80 and Circular 14/85. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, West (Mr. Butterfill) on 5 July.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library the representations received as a result of the consultation carried out in October 1983 on policy relating to large new retail developments.

Mr. Macfarlane

No. It is for those who make representations to my Department to decide whether they wish to make such representations public; it would not be appropriate for me to do so.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will detail (a) the proportion of London superstore applications decided on appeal and (b) the average time which elapses between the decision to send a superstore or hypermarket application in Greater London to appeal and the date on which an appeal decision is based.

Mr. Macfarlane

There have been nine appeals in London relating to superstores since the beginning of 1983, of which six were allowed. We have no information on the number of applications determined by local planning authorities. The average time between the date of appeal and the date on which the appeal decisions were issued was fifteen months.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been achieved on his Department's pilot studies to collect data on retail sales and shops; whether a decision has been taken to extend the exercise to the rest of the United Kingdom; and what is the earliest date by which full coverage of Greater London's shopping centres can be achieved.

Mr. Macfarlane

My Department, in conjunction with the economic development committee for the distributive trades, is undertaking a pilot project to assess the costs and feasibility of a possible limited collection of retail statistics. The project is in its early stages and there is no commitment to any further research.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all current superstore applications where projected catchment areas overlap; and if he will make it his policy to have them considered in a single appeal or at linked appeals so that their cumulative impact can be considered.

Mr. Macfarlane

Information of this kind about applications to local planning authorities is not available. It is already the practice to hold joint inquiries into appeals which are clearly inter-related when it is feasible to do so.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the cumulative impact of superstores did not feature in development control policy note 13.

Mr. Macfarlane

Development control policy note 13 gave general guidance on the effect of proposals for new retail development on existing centres.