Shopping Centres (Hansard, 25 November 1993)

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his current proposals concerning out-of-town shopping centres.

§ Mr. Baldry
The Secretary of State's current policy is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 6, "Town Centres and Retail Developments", published in July. It should be 185W taken into account by local authorities as they prepare their development plans, and in deciding individual applications. Among other things, it stresses a suitable balance in providing for retail development between town centre and out-of-centre retail facilities, taking account of factors such as accessibility and effective competition that will benefit consumers generally.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for how many out-of-town shopping centres he has given planning permission for each year since 1979; and which companies have been successful.

§ Mr. Baldry
The Secretary of State granted permission, on appeal, for major retail developments over 1,000 sq. metres floor space as follows:

Year Number of Appeals Allowed

^*1984–85 28

1985–86 42

1986–87 82

1987–88 88

1988–89 65

1989–90 37

1990–91 43

1991–92 47

1992–93 70

^* This covers the period from 1 January 1984 to 31 March 1985

No data is readily available for the period 1979–1983, nor is data readily available for the number of called-in applications approved. It is not possible to distinguish between town centre schemes and out of town developments, nor to identify the developers or companies involved, without unreasonable cost.

Year	Number of Appeals Allowed
^*1984–85	28
1985–86	42
1986–87	82
1987–88	88
1988–89	65
1989–90	37
1990–91	43
1991–92	47
1992–93	70
^* This covers the period from 1 January 1984 to 31 March 1985