Sunday Trading Reform - A mess waiting to happen

George Osborne is set to announce a consultation on changes to Sunday trading laws.

Apparently he intends to leave it local authorities to decide policy. That means, for example, that Dartford Council could allow Bluewater Shopping Centre to open for longer hours on Sunday whilst across the Thames, Thurrock Council could refuse to allow extended opening at Lakeside.

I can only imagine the employment difficulties that retailers would face with such a piecemeal policy.

What is easier to understand is that the ability to trade longer on Sunday in certain locations could improve the attractiveness of those locations to retailers which in turn could lead to higher rents and higher capital values.