Encouraging for retail investment
Planning proposals in a report by Bank of England policymaker Kate Barker could be good news for retailers, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Barker said the planning system was unnecessarily slow, expensive and bureaucratic. She recommends streamlining planning policies to improve speed and efficiency.

Chancellor Gordon Brown commissioned Barker to carry out a full review of the UK's planning process, which businesses say is hurting competitiveness.

She said: 'Businesses, residents and others want a system that can continue to secure economic prosperity alongside vital social and environmental goals. I believe this reform package, if enacted, can help create this world-class planning system.'

BRC said Barker has produced a number of bold and sensible proposals, which could increase retail expansion.

The BRC supports the suggestions: to reduce planning application form filling and costs, to remove the need for planning consent, to encourage the town centre first principle - that retail development should take place in town centres where possible - and to have a faster planning appeals system.

BRC director general Kevin Hawkins said: 'The report is right to recognise that our inefficient planning system is a barrier to retail growth, productivity and wider economic development. The report contains some bold and sensible proposals.'

Barker's report called for the creation of an Independent Planning Commission to have the final say on planning proposals, removing responsibility from ministers in all but exceptional cases.

Planning applications should also be approved unless there are strong reasons against them, because streamlining the process could save businesses hundreds of millions of pounds.

Bureaucratic delays could be holding up business investment in the UK.

Swedish furniture giant IKEA is struggling to get permission for 20 additional stores.

Topics