The National Retail Planning Forum

News Archive 2011

Commons Debate Jan 2012
There was great demand by MPs to speak at the recent House of Commons Backbench Business Committee debate on the Future of Town Centres and High Streets. Of particular interest are the comments of Grant Schapps, Minister for Housing and Local Government who is tasked with the Govenment response to the Portas Review.

CLG Select Committee Dec 2011
The Communitees and Local Government Select Committee report of its inquiry into the draft NPPF has recommended several changes, in particular the contuation of a strong town centres first policy that includes offices, and the possible provision to allow absolute protection from out-of-town development in exceptional circumstances.

Portas Review - Final Dec 2011
The BIS/Mary Portas review of the Future ofigh Streets has been published. Alongside the main report, additional research on ‘Understanding High Street Performance’ has also been published. See also the BIS press release. A Government response is due in the spring.

NPPF Response Oct 2011
The NRPF response to the consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework is now available to view here.

Town Centres and the NPPF Aug 2011
While there has been much press coverage of housing and countryside aspects of the draft NPPF, an article in Planning (registrat n required) considered potential impacts on town centres and High Streets.

Is the High Street Doomed? Aug 2011
BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme devoted a recent edition to looking at the state and prospects of the High Street

Food Retailers and Planning Regulation July 2011
An academic paper by Wood, Lowe & Wrigley from 2010 is now freely available, examining in detail the different responses of UK food retailers to retail planning regulatory changes since the mid-1990s.

Labour High Street Campaign July 2011
The Labour Party have launched a campaign to 'save Britan's High Streets'. Proposed actions include a competition test and the introduction of a 'retail diversity planning clause'.

Lords Debate - Retail Diversity July 2011
An amdendment proposed to the Localism Bill in the House of Lords Committee stage, although not adopted, prompted a useful discussion on High Streets and retail diversity.

Portas and Planning Sept 2011
Recent interviews with Mary Portas, who is leading the BIS High Street Review, in Retail Week, Planning (both may require registration) and on the BBC suggest that the Review is considering planning to be an important factor. Concerns about oversupply and potential softening of Town Centres First policy in the NPPF are expressed.

In Town or Out - Who's Counting?July 2011
An article in Planning (free registation required) examines whether the removal of the needs test and the downturn have resulted in a shift out of town, as some predicted. It also highlights the increasing lack of monitoring.

The UK High Street In Depth July 2011
The Financial Times has published a series of articles looking at the changing nature of high street retail from several perspectives (free registration may be required)

Empty Shops in Towns June 2011
A recent Parliamentary written answer to a question on help for town with high vacancy rates prompted a detailed answer including another strong reaffirmation of 'Town Centre First' policy.

Response to Statistics Consultation June 2011
Read the NRPF response to the recent consultation by DCLG on its draft plan for future collection and publication of statistics.

High Street Review Survey June 2011
As part of the Portas High Street Review BIS are now running a survey, which is open until 31 August.

Colliers Midsummer Retail Report June 2011
Colliers International's latest retail report classifies retail centres based on a range of factors to identify current performance and how well they are likely to do in future. Press reports can be found here and here (registration may be required).

Presumption in Favious of Sustainable Development June 2011
The Government have published their draft wording of the presumption in favour of sustainable development, in advance of the publication of the draft new National Planning Policy Framework, on which Ministers plan to consult formally in July. See also the press release.

Practitioners Advisory Group Proposed Draft NPPF May 2011
The Practitioners Advisory Group, who report to the Minister for Decentralisation and Planning, have submitted their draft National Planning Policy Framework and a set of recommendations to the minister.

London Plan and Small Shops May 2011
The Panel Report into the Draft Replacement London Plan has recommended several changes to the original controversial proposals regarding small shops. The provision of small shops in large retail development is made a local rather than strategic policy while enhancement of the public realm has replaced provision of small shops as a priority in determining applications. See London First's press release.

Portas High Street Review May 2011
BIS have appointed well-known retail marketing consultant Mary Portas to lead an independent review into the future of the High Street. This will also form part of the Government's wider Growth Review. A useful background document from a recent BIS workshop related to this review is available here.

Can Localism Save Small Retailers? Apr 2011
Another influential centre-right think tank, ResPublica, has produced a report on the future of small shops, commissioned by the Association of Convenience Stores. It controversially proposes new tax raising powers on large out-of-town shops using the money to cut business rates for small retailers.

Consultation: DCLG Draft Statistics Plan Apr 2011
DCLG are seeking responses to their draft statistics plan which sets out proposals for collecting and publishing official statistics over the period April 2011 to March 2012.

Of particular relevance is Annex 3 where significant changes to the continued production of floorspace and rateable value statistics and statistics on the extent of retail development in town centres are proposed. The consultation closed on June 3rd (note extended deadline).

Knowledge Base Update Mar 2011
The annual update to our Knowledge Base is now available. Prepared by the Institute for Retail Studies at the University of Stirling, it provides searchable details of all relevant books, papers and articles published in 2010, including a selection of international items. Also included is a commentary on research trends in the year. Our annotated guide to useful websites has also been updated.

Pipeline Nearly Empty Mar 2011
BCSC and Lunson Mitchenall have published their annual survey of the Shopping Centre Development Pipeline, revealing new development to be at a historic low. Ways to get development moving again are suggested. See also BCSC's latest Policy Update.

National Planning Policy Framework Mar 2011
Read our response to the now-closed In December the Government announced the first stage of its review and consolidation of national planning policy into a single document. A consultation took place on which priorities and policies should be adopted in the framework. Read the NRPF response.

Too Many Shops in the Wrong Place? Mar 2011
A paper by the influential Policy Exchange think-tank argues for reform of the Use Classes. In particular it proposes making conversion from Class A and B (retail and employment) uses to Class C3 (dwelling houses) easier.

'Town Centres First' Policy Reaffirmed Feb 2011
A proposed amendement to the Localism Bill would have enshrined the 'Town Centres Approach' in primary legislation. Although later withdrawn, this led to an important ministerial reaffirmation during debate on the clause that the policy would remain in the new framework.

More on Foodstores and Smaller Centres Feb 2011
A paper commissioned by the Association of Convenience Stores from the Oxford Institute of Retail Management provides a constructive critique of the recent University of Southampton study of the impact of edge/in-centre supermarket developments on market towns and district centres.

Vacancy Rates Update Feb 2011
The latest report from the Local Data Company shows vacany rates increasing, especially in the North, with only large centres in the South East and London holding up well. Videos from a seminar held to discuss the research can also be viewed online.

Return of the Butcher and the Baker? Feb 2011
A recent article in the Independent newspaper suggests that there has been a revival in tradtional high street food shops, driven by a demand for high-quality food.

States of the Nations Jan 2011
Two recent presentations to Parliaments, one made to the new All Party Parliamentary Group on Town Centres at Westminster, the other by the Scottish Towns Policy Group to the Scottish Government, look at the current state of Town Centres policies in England and Scotland respectively and make recommendations for the future.