Empty Shops in Town Centres

Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:53 pm on 3 October 2018.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 1:53, 3 October 2018

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.