HC 1526 Communities and Local Government CommitteeSupplementary written evidence from the British Chambers of Commerce

In the CLG Committee NPPF session on Monday 10 October, I said I would write to clarify the BCC’s position on the “sequential test”. This followed an exchange on the potential impact of the NPPF on retailers and other members of the Chamber of Commerce Network.

In practice, and under the current system, planning applications are sometimes made that conflict with considerations of sequence and/or the local plan. This may, for example, reflect issues of financial viability with existing sites. In these cases, Planning Committees will consider the application based on i) the evidence from the applicant; ii) the advice from planning officers and their retail consultants; and iii) considerations of sustainable development laid out in local planning documents and national guidance.

While our members do sometimes question the capacity of planning departments to make informed judgements on financial viability, we do agree with the overall approach: the BCC supports a plan-led system that positively directs development within the context of local plans. Current national guidance (taken forward in the NPPF in section 76–80) directs planning authorities to take a “sequential approach” to considering applications for retail and leisure uses. It is our belief that the NPPF confirms existing national policy and we do not expect the presumption in favour of sustainable development to radically change this.

October 2011

Prepared 20th December 2011