COLUMN by Stroud mayor Tony Davey.
Planning is one of the areas of local government that can bring the most debate.
Ultimately, it’s often a battle between legislation and personal opinion, with a broad mix between.
Our consultations committee reviews planning and licensing applications within our parish, but we (as you, the public) are only consultees and it is the district council that is the planning authority, or soon Gloucestershire Council.
There are legal changes planned to allow increased local power over which businesses (for example) may be housed in our high streets.
On the face of it that seems like a good idea, but the intended positive impact may not be the outcome delivered.
One of the recent planning applications we have reviewed has raised local concern, in part because a change of usage to Class E does not require the applicant to define which shop, office, gym, or eat-in restaurant or café may occupy the units when let or sold.
As the law stands today (outside of restrictions that can be imposed within a Local Plan or Neighbourhood Development Plan) there is no control unless the premises requires a specific licence.
For such legislative changes to have the desired positive impact, who ultimately makes the choice will be key, and that choice will have to stand the test of a fair appeal.
The move was intended to bring an end to a proliferation of vape shops and barbers, but more changes will be needed to ensure units do not just remain unoccupied.
Having also headed the district’s Chamber of Trade & Commerce for almost a decade, I know that what the public believes a town needs may not always be a sustainable business given a location, size of unit or consumer demand.
Further, national chains are important as anchor stores, yet can be against the wishes of the public (if given a choice).
Businesses that in theory should thrive can be closed within a year because the predicted footfall and basket spend never emerged – often because the prices offered with provenance, business ethics and local focus, cannot compete with online businesses with lower standards and where the profits are then invested overseas, nor compete against the buying power of a supermarket.
The entire retail landscape has changed significantly over three decades, with more landlords with no connections to the towns of their premises; something that plays a large part in how premises are let.
A fairer business rates system, combined with sustainable rents and penalties on landlords for longer-term unoccupied units, can improve the opportunities.
Whatever the outcome, our towns will continue to evolve and it’s important that we support them if we wish them to thrive.
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