Member

I acknowledge noble friends’ concerns that existing practice is not always effectively protecting existing businesses, such as music venues. That is why we are proposing targeted updates to national planning policy, including clear requirements for applicants to consider both current and permitted levels of activity within existing uses, and to have early discussions with businesses in their vicinity. We will review the accompanying guidance to spread best practice and write to local authorities to reinforce the importance of the issue. I believe that these steps we are taking will genuinely improve the way things are done on the ground and make primary legislation unnecessary and duplicative.