09.07.19
Commission calls for transforming retail parks into communities
Town halls should encourage the redevelopment of retail parks and large supermarkets into communities that include homes, shops and businesses, a wide-ranging report for the government has found.
The Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission published their interim report, the 'Creating space for beauty' report, calling for the creation of these ‘mixed developments’ for communities.
The report also called for communities and the public to be given an earlier and more effective voice in the planning process.
Interim chairman of the Commission, Nicholas Boys Smith said: “Redeveloping abandoned out of town retail parks and ugly old supermarkets would deliver something much more beautiful in the form of thriving new communities where people can raise a family, work or settle down.
“Our initial report sets many ways we can make our country more beautiful while fulfilling the needs of future generations who will need a roof over their head.
“We need to move the democracy up-stream from development control to plan-making.
“Hopefully our report will start part of that important debate with the public and the professions.
“These are draft proposals at this stage, and we would welcome further feedback before we put a final report to the government in the coming months.”