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Developers told to favour town renaissance

"We must regenerate all our town and city centres," said Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott Speaking at the Planning and Productivity conference, yesterday.

The Deputy Prime Minister used the conference to launch the revised Planning Policy Statement on Planning for Town Centres (PPS6). The policy encourages retailers to develop in town and city centres rather than build new stores in out-of-town locations.

The government intends to encourage investment and regeneration of town and city centres across the country and the new policy will require local authorities to plan for growth in city centres rather than use out-of-town sites.

John Prescott said: "The new PPS6 reaffirms our commitment to town centres and seeks to encourage the urban renaissance we are experiencing in many of our cities.”

"Regional and local planning authorities will need to take a pro-active role – working closely with the private sector to identify town centre and edge of centre sites for new retail, leisure and mixed use developments."

PPS6 will require local authorities to plan for growth in town centres and will encourage their expansion where this will help further development. It will also encourage business-driven regeneration of our town centres.

Planning Minister Keith Hill said: "This is another step in the right direction. Sensible planning policies can help regenerate both town and local centres, drive development and promote social inclusion, getting jobs and service to those communities who most need them."

"Large town centres are already thriving – the challenge now is to ensure that smaller town centres also share in their success, whilst avoiding massive new superstores being built on greenfield sites out of town."

The new PPS6 is out for public consultation until 15 March 2004.