Written statement by (Secretary of State for
Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I wish to update the House on the urgent matter of enabling
retailers of food, sanitary and other essential items to increase
the frequency of deliveries to their stores to support the
response to Covid-19.
Many supermarkets, food retailers and distribution centres in
England are subject to controls which restrict the time and
number of deliveries from lorries and other delivery vehicles,
particularly at night. These include planning conditions, which
are necessary to making the development acceptable to local
residents who might otherwise suffer from traffic, noise and
other local amenity issues as a result of these deliveries.
Given the exceptional challenges facing the UK from the
coronavirus however, it is vital that deliveries of food,
sanitary and other essential products over the coming weeks can
be made as quickly and safely as possible, minimising disruption
to the supply chains on which our communities depend. The likely
pressures on driver capacity mean additional flexibility is
needed so that retailers can accept deliveries throughout the day
and night where necessary.
The National Planning Policy Framework already emphasises that
planning enforcement is a discretionary activity, and local
planning authorities should act proportionately in responding to
suspected breaches of planning control.
The purpose of this Written Ministerial Statement, which comes
into effect immediately, is to make clear that as a matter of
urgency local planning authorities should take a positive
approach to their engagement with food retailers and
distributors, as well as the freight industry, to ensure planning
controls are not a barrier to food delivery over the period of
disruption caused by the coronavirus.
Given the current situation local planning authorities should not
seek to undertake planning enforcement action which would result
in unnecessarily restricting deliveries of food and other
essential deliveries during this period, having regard to their
legal obligations.
The Government recognises that the increased frequency of
deliveries, particularly at night, could have a temporary impact
on local residents. However, this needs to be balanced by the
significant public interest in ensuring local residents have
continued access to food, sanitary and other essential goods in
their local shops. The retail and logistics sectors have also
worked to minimise impacts on residents over recent years through
Quiet Deliveries and the Government expects that such good
practice continues. The Government will review the need for the
flexibility outlined in this statement after the pressure from
the coronavirus has reduced, and it is the intention to withdraw
it once the immediate urgency has subsided.
This Written Ministerial Statement only covers England. We are
working closely with the devolved administrations to consider
similar arrangements.
