Labour MP Yuan Yang has proposed relaxing planning regulations to facilitate the opening of more budget supermarkets, such as Aldi and Lidl, in working-class neighborhoods identified as 'food deserts.' Yang, a former economist and journalist who has represented Earley and Woodley since 2024, argues that such measures could help alleviate the ongoing cost of living crisis.
In an article for the Fabian Society, Yang suggested modifying planning laws, potentially by relaxing requirements for parking spaces, to make it easier for supermarkets to establish new branches in areas lacking access to larger grocery stores. She highlighted that previous policy changes allowing the expansion of Lidl and Aldi resulted in "estimated welfare gains of 3.5 percent on certain basic products." Yang also proposed that the government could consider specific development rights for low-cost supermarkets, particularly in communities underserved by existing large retailers. This, she contended, would reduce reliance on smaller, more expensive corner shops or 'express' supermarkets, which can charge consumers 10-20 percent more.
Furthermore, Yang called for the liberalization of Sunday trading laws as a short-term measure to benefit working individuals. Current legislation in England and Wales, enacted in 1994, restricts shops larger than 280 square meters (approximately 3,000 square feet) to opening for six hours between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sundays. Smaller stores are not subject to these limitations. This has led to a proliferation of smaller express stores that can operate more freely, while larger supermarkets face restrictions.
The article noted that similar restrictions exist in Northern Ireland, while Scotland has no such limitations. During the 2012 London Olympics, a temporary suspension of these restrictions in England for eight weeks led to a 3.2 percent increase in sales. Public opinion polls, such as a June survey by YouGov, indicate that a majority of the public supports extending Sunday opening hours. The Liberal Democrats have also advocated for a review of these laws, suggesting that local councils should have the discretion to determine opening hours.
In addition to retail policy, Yang addressed agricultural imports, urging action to reduce the UK's reliance on oil and fertilizer imports, which have been impacted by geopolitical events. She also suggested that retailers promote more plant-based foods within their own-brand ranges, which could decrease supermarkets' vulnerability to the volatile prices of animal proteins.