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Press Release

FSB welcomes proposed changes to planning laws

Tuesday 5 December 2006

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) today welcomed the Treasury-commissioned review of planning laws announced by Kate Barker.

The proposals would make it simpler for small businesses to go ahead with minor developments and extensions without the need for planning permission, which can be complicated and time-consuming.

But the FSB warned that any changes to planning laws must still allow for the proper scrutiny of supermarkets, which are already under investigation by the Competition Commission for the alleged abuse of existing planning laws.

Roger Culcheth, FSB Local Government Chairman, said:

“Kate Barker’s review is good news for small businesses that find themselves mired in the bureaucracy and red tape of long, drawn-out planning applications.

“Proposals that make the process of expanding and developing small business premises easier and faster will be of great benefit to local communities and the economy as a whole.

“However, any changes must not give a green light to supermarkets to ride roughshod over legitimate local concerns about large-scale developments.”



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Federation of Small Businesses

Federation of Small Businesses

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