§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what investigations the Government have carried out into the extent to which existing planning applications for supermarkets have a condition stating the maximum retail floor space; and how many applications have had such conditions attached. [138746]
§ Keith HillThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not collect information on the amount of floor space granted in planning permissions or what conditions were attached, because to do so would be an excessive burden on local authorities. Our policy is to minimise the data demands we place on local planning authorities.
From the cases that my officials have seen, which are mainly the largest retail cases, and from advice they have sought, their assessment agreed with that of the hon. Member in Standing Committee that the vast majority of consents since 1996 have maximum floor space stipulated in conditions, whereas for those prior to 1996 it may have been less frequent.