News
Town centres & retail planning news, June 2018
01 Jun 2018
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Headline news |
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Parliamentary inquiry: high streets and town centres in 2030
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the future role of the high street in contributing to the local economy and the health, cohesion and cultural life of the local community; and
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‘the challenges faced amid changing demographic, technological and other trends in recent decades’.
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The role of high streets and town centres in contributing to the local economy and the health, wellbeing, cohesion and cultural life of the local community;
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The economic, demographic, social and technological challenges facing high streets and town centres and how they are likely to develop over the next ten years;
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How high streets and town centres are adapting to meet these challenges, the conditions necessary for sustainability, for example, residential development and related infrastructure, and how local areas are planning for the future;
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The outlook for high streets and town centres that cannot rely on consumer spending and business growth and investment;
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Whether councils have the planning, licensing, tax raising and other tools needed to help local areas flourish and how they make use of these; and
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The legacy of the Government’s previous work on the high street, including the Portas Pilots, the Future High Streets Forum and the Great British High Street.
House of Commons HCLG Committee, High streets and town centres in 2030 inquiry launched
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Quote of the month |
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Our high streets and town centres have an important social, civic and cultural place in our society. But, many of our high streets are now struggling, facing a range of challenges including the threat posed by online retailers. Indeed, changing trends and behaviours in recent decades – driven by a range of economic, demographic, social and technological factors – have affected the prosperity and vibrancy of our high streets.
Clive Betts MP, Chair of the House of Commons MHCLG Committee, announcing a new inquiry on 10 May, looking at the future of England’s high streets and town centres in 2030. |
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Implications of high street retail closures
House of Commons Hansard, Marks and Spencer debate, 24 May 2018
Regulations made for pre-commencement conditions
The Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 (Commencement No.5) Regulations 2018The Town and Country Planning (Pre-commencement Conditions) Regulations 2018MHCLG, Government response to the consultation on pre-commencement conditions regulationsLichfields Planning Matters: New procedures for pre-commencement conditions come into effect from October 2018
Government still targets end of July for revised NPPF
Chief Planner Steve Quartermain was reported as saying there had been more than 27,000 responses, although this total includes multiple submissions from campaign groups (including 5,000 duplicate responses seeking better protection for veteran trees).
Newly formed Heritage Council intends to help ensure sector thrives
DCMS, Newly formed Heritage Council will help ensure sector thrives
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The Lichfields perspective |
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Everyone wants high streets and town centres to play an important part in communities and place making. We all know that for them to do so, they must not only be for shopping, as highlighted by recent store closure news from across England. They must be promoted as vibrant places to visit, attractive and well-connected places to work, and great places to live. The right mix and balance of uses will be of paramount importance in the future. We have already started to plan differently for longer term high street and town centre vitality and viability. Centre health will need increasingly flexible, creative and innovative thinking in devising policy and in putting together new development projects. July’s National Planning Policy Framework will just be the starting point.
Steven Butterworth, Senior Director |
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Disclaimer: This publication has been written in general terms and cannot be relied on to cover specific situations. We recommend that you obtain professional advice before acting or refraining from acting on any of the contents of this publication. Lichfields accepts no duty of care or liability for any loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of any material in this publication. Lichfields is the trading name of Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Limited. Registered in England, no.2778116