The Government is to unveil planning laws today to stem out-of-town developments and safeguard high streets.

The revised policy promises to bring greater protection to town centres by making it harder for developers to build out-of-town shopping centres.

A new impact test will be brought in to replace the present needs test, meaning that town planners will now be required to consider the implications a new build would have on smaller businesses in the town, rather than simply whether the need for the build exists.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears will launch the policy this evening at the Royal Town Planning Institute.

The policy is likely to place further constraints on out-of-town shopping centre developers by giving local authorities more powers to block new builds.


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