Out-of-town Shopping Centres

HC Deb 17 December 2001 vol 377 cc18-9W

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many out-of-town shopping centres have received planning consent since 1997. [22902]

Ms Keeble

Since 1997 only eight out-of-town centres have been given planning permission. Out-of-town centres have been defined by the definition used for the sustainable development indicator for the location of new retail floorspace. "Out-of-town" means outside town centres and includes sites in urban areas. Centre includes all purpose-built shopping developments and factory outlet centres over 50,000 sq ft gross lettable area.