HC Deb 21 May 1997 vol 294 c84W
Mr. Jack

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers the Commission for New Towns has to revise its present proposals for the use of the District Centre Site at Cottamwear, Preston. [251]

Mr. Caborn

Proposals for the site were originally made by the former Central Lancashire Development Corporation under Section 7(1) of the New Towns Act 1981 and were approved by the then Secretary of State in 1983 under Section 7(2) of the same Act.

Any changes to the approved development are subject to the normal planning application procedures and must be approved by the local planning authority.

Mr. Jack

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors led the Commission for the New Towns to alter its original plans for the use of the District Centre Site at Cottamwear, Preston. [252]

Mr. Caborn

I understand that the Commission for the New Towns wished to modify its original plans so as to allow for a single large supermarket, which it believes would be more appropriate to a large new housing area and would offer a wide range of facilities than could have been provided under the constraints of the existing planning permission.