Oral Answers to Questions

Nick Smith Excerpts

Monday 5th September 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Pickles]

The Localism Bill gives local authorities the discretion to do that, and my hon. Friend makes a very sensible suggestion which I am very confident a number of local authorities will take up.

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

2. What steps his Department is taking to support high streets through the planning system.

[The Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Greg Clark)]

It is a devolved matter for the hon. Gentleman’s constituents, but the Government are committed to the “town centre first” approach, which prefers to site new retail developments on the high street.

[Nick Smith]

I thank the Minister for his reply. The new planning system framework calls for a presumption in favour of sustainable development. Today, however, the Financial Times describes that phrase as “vaguely defined”. Will the Minister please take this opportunity to offer us a precise definition?

[Greg Clark]

It is the same definition that the previous Government and Governments before them applied. In fact, it is the classic definition. It is that development that takes place should not be at the expense of the interests of future generations—and that is defined economically, socially and environmentally.