Planning reforms to help retailers install 'click and collect' facilities

The reforms to planning rules, which will come into force on 15 April, mean retailers will not need to obtain planning permission to erect or construct a "collection facility within the curtilage of a shop" so long as the development conforms to certain limitations, including on height, floor space, location and proximity to roads.

Under the new rules, contained in The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (164-page / 854KB PDF), developers will be required, however, to liaise with local planning authorities before installing new 'click and collect' facilities to check whether "prior approval of the authority will be required as to the siting, design and external appearance of the development".

In practice, this will mean developers will need to provide local planning authorities with a number of details, including a "written description of the proposed development" and "a plan indicating the site and showing the proposed development".

Local planning authorities will be able to refuse applications if the proposed click and collect facilities do not conform to the limitations set out in the new rules or if "insufficient information" has been provided to it by the developer about the plans.

The government said the reforms were aimed at helping retailers respond to consumers' trend towards buying more goods online. It said it expects the use of click and collect services to double in the next three years.

Planning minister Brandon Lewis said: "How we shop is changing radically and I want to help our high streets thrive from online competition. [These] measures will mean even more retailers can offer ‘click and collect’ services, encouraging shoppers to visit their businesses and pick up their purchases at a time that suits them."