3. What consideration has the Cabinet Secretary given to changing planning laws in order to deal with the condition of empty shops in our towns? OAQ52658

Thank you. Existing legislation and national planning policies support diverse high streets with a range of uses in order to help make them vibrant places for people to work, live and visit. The planning system needs to be flexible to help town centres adapt to change and take action where needed.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer. But, Cabinet Secretary, during a seminar given by the chief planning officer of Wales, a question was asked of him as to whether there were planning laws that would allow local authorities to force owners to maintain the cosmetic appearance of empty commercial premises. This would, of course, enhance the appearance of town centres, perhaps making them more conducive to attracting new businesses. Disappointingly, his answer was that there are no provisions in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 other than to act if a premises posed an immediate risk. Could the Cabinet Secretary look at the possibility of providing local authorities with powers to demand this cosmetic upkeep by owners?

Yes, I'll certainly speak to the chief planning officer to see if there is anything we can do. You'll be aware that we've recently consulted on 'Planning Policy Wales', so it could be that we could look to do something there, because I absolutely agree. I know in my own town centre in Wrexham, if there are empty shops, it's much better if they're cosmetically decorated in a way that makes them look attractive for future business. So, yes, I'd be very happy to look into that and I'll write to the Member.

Cabinet Secretary, the increasing tendency for consumer spending to shift online and to out-of-town retail parks has resulted in the closure of many shops in city centres around south-east Wales. The Centre for Cities think-tank has said struggling city centres should end their dependency on retail by replacing shops with offices and housing. They point out that in Newport, more than 40 per cent of commercial space is in retail—much of it is struggling. Does the Cabinet Secretary agree that the future of our high street lies in more than retail and what plan does she have to change planning laws to make it easier to convert retail outlets into housing or office units? Thank you.

Yes, I would absolutely agree with you that we need to look at different uses for our town centres, because, as you say, shopping trends have definitely changed—more people are shopping online, for instance. We've certainly made sure that the planning policy is flexible enough to allow flats to be put above shops, for instance. And, obviously, we need to make sure that our towns are also central for economic and social lives, so we see much more night-time economy in these—. And I think the planning policy is flexible enough to allow that to happen.