All retailers will be allowed to offer click-and-collect services in store from next month as laws requiring planning permission are changed.
From April 15, retailers wanting to install click-and-collect facilities will no longer have to apply for planning permission, which costs £195 and requires store bosses to complete reams of paperwork.
“Far from threatening the high street, online shopping offers a new opportunity.”
Brandon Lewis, Planning minister
Ministers say the move, which will allow more online shoppers to pick up their purchases in store, will act as a boost to the high street.
The UK is the world’s biggest user of click-and-collect, with use of the service expected to double by 2018.
Planning minister Brandon Lewis said the move would bring more people into town centres and help high-street retailers “thrive”.
Helping high streets thrive
He said: “Far from threatening the high street, online shopping offers a new opportunity. How we shop is changing radically and I want to help our high streets thrive from online competition.
“Today’s 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.
“It’s just one of a range of measures we’re taking to boost the Great British high street, encourage shoppers to the town centre and get shops to grow and thrive.”
Scores of supermarkets and department stores are already using the service, with Sainsbury’s the latest big-name retailer to join the click-and-collect revolution after revealing plans to roll it out in 100 stores by the end of this year.
Some retailers have also installed eBay and Amazon lockers to allow the ecommerce giants’ customers to pick up their shopping in-store rather than have them delivered.
High streets minister Penny Mordaunt added: “We know digital is the way forward for our high streets.
“High streets contribute billions of pounds to the economy and the Government is committed to supporting them as part of our long-term economic plan to create jobs and boost local communities.”
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