Written question asked by Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative) on Monday, 26 October 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 28 October 2009. It was answered by Lord Austin of Dudley (Labour) on Thursday, 29 October 2009 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Retail Trade: Planning Permission

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to promote retail diversity through the planning system.

Answer: Our draft Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Prosperous Communities (PPS4) requires local planning authorities to take steps to protect and where appropriate enhance consumer choice and diversity in their town centres.We will be publishing the final PPS4 by the end of the year. Local authorities must take the PPS into account when preparing their local development frameworks and it may be material to decision on individual applications and appeals.

Secondary information