Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of (a) out of town shopping centres and (b) online shopping on the health of town centres and high streets.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) reaffirms our commitment to the town centre first approach, to maintain footfall and avoid undermining their vitality. This makes it clear that in the first instance main town centre uses, such as retail, leisure and office should be located in town centres.

Between February 2009 and February 2019, the share of online retailing as a percentage of all retail sales increased from 5.9 per cent to 17.6 per cent. However, 82.4 per cent of retail is still generated from physical retail.

We recognise that changing consumer behaviour presents a significant challenge for retailers in our town centres. That is why we set out ‘Our Plan for the High Street’ at Autumn budget, to support the sustainable transformation of high streets. This includes a £675 million Future High Streets Fund to support local areas in England to invest in town centre infrastructure, a High Streets Task Force to give high streets and town centres expert advice to adapt and thrive, and measures on business rates and planning.