I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 10 July 2007, Official Report, [147857].
Whether planning permission is required for the merger of shop units depends on what work is proposed. Unless a change of use is involved, planning permission will not usually be required if the merger involves only internal works. Transforming small shop units into large ones would not usually be considered a change of use. However, where works would affect the external appearance of a building, planning permission is likely to be required. Where planning permission is needed, local planning authorities can already prevent the merger of shop units through imposing planning conditions in the context of their planning strategy for their town centres. “Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres” (PPS6) gives further advice on the effective use of planning conditions to ensure that the character of a development cannot subsequently be changed to create a form of development that a local authority would originally have refused.
We have no plans to change the current arrangements.