BPF backs supermarket building plans

The British Property Federation (BPF) has responded to today's Competition Commission findings on the grocery market by calling for the local plan-making process to establish where retail developments should go.The BPF believes this will encourage vibrant and sustainable local and regional economies with a solid mix of both town-centre and out-of-town developments.

The Competition Commission's report said: "The planning system for retail development and the manner in which it is applied by local planning authorities also acts as a barrier to entry or expansion, by limiting construction of new stores on out-of-centre or edge-of-centre."

It recommends updating the planning system to ease development, but also backs "maintaining constraints on out-of-town developments."

Michael Chambers, BPF director for regeneration and development, said: "The BPF fully supports Town Centres First policy, but this can sometimes lead to anomalies, leaving areas outside the centre with limited competition. This policy has got to be flexible enough to overcome such problems.

"We welcome the Commission's findings and hopefully this can steer thinking away from a supposed war between 'good' inner-city retailers and 'bad' out-of-town developments. What we need is a vibrant mix of both. Local retail plans that can identify likely problems would serve to do this. We should look to overcome any competition issues in advance to ensure our towns have a healthy blend of choice that suits both business and consumers."