Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The draft guidelines for planning authorities on retail planning will be finalised by April 2012. The guidelines are aimed at ensuring the planning system plays a key role in supporting competitiveness in the retail sector, advancing choice for the consumer while promoting and supporting the vitality and viability of city and town centres, and contributing to a high standard of urban design and encouraging a greater use of sustainable transport. We are clarifying the messages of previous guidelines in promoting a sequential approach to retail development. This will mean that the preferred location for new retail development is within city and town centres. Following the sequential approach, if no development sites are available within a city or town centre, then the next preference should be a location on the edge of the city or town centre. Only where the applicant can demonstrate, and the planning authority is satisfied, that there are no sites or potential sites within a city or town centre or on its edge should out-of-centre development be considered.

In parallel with this policy objective, the guidelines will also clarify that to ensure proper planning and sustainable development, retail development and activity must follow the settlement hierarchy of the State, including the various gateway and hub town locations identified in the national spatial strategy, the regional planning guidelines and the core strategies of development plans. My objective will be to strengthen national planning policy requirements for all planning authorities in relation to retail planning and the requirements in relation to driving city and town centres as focal points for retailing.

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