This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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High Street on top in shopping battle
29/07/2004
Scotland's high streets are holding their own against
out of town shopping developments, thanks to planning
guidance supporting town centre regeneration.
The Executive's Retail Development Survey shows that
since current guidance was introduced 5 years ago, more
shopping floorspace has been approved and built in or near
town centres than on out-of-centre sites.
And for those developments constructed, there has
consistently been greater use made of brownfield sites.
Deputy Minister for Communities, Mary Mulligan said:
"Supporting healthy urban centres with a good range of
shops and other activities is a key part of creating
stronger communities.
"A good mix inside towns has benefits for transport, the
environment and quality of life.
"But we also recognise that for some people other
centres are convenient. We want to support that choice, but
not at the expense of our green spaces. That's why it is
reassuring that over the last years, our guidance has
successfully encouraged reuse and regeneration of
brownfield sites.
"We're also in the process of updating our planning
system, and this research will help us shape our policies
so that they reflect the needs of communities across the
country."
Survey results from 1998 to 2002 indicate that:
· More retail floorspace is constructed in town centre
and edge of centre locations (55 per cent) than in
out-of-centre and out-of-town locations. (45 per cent)
· Greenfield developments under construction reduced
from 60,000 sq m in 1998 to nil in both 2001 and 2002.
· In 2002 over two thirds of floorspace constructed was
on brownfield sites. The remainder was in other locations,
e.g. the adaptation of existing facilities like Edinburgh's
Mulberry Walk development over St Andrew's bus station.
· Applications for retail development have remained
steady recently, with 92 applications in 2001 totalling
565,000 sq. metres, and 93 applications in 2002, totalling
495,000 sq. metres.
Our planning policies look to promote new development
and regeneration in town centres, the reuse of previously
developed land and expecting developments to be located
with better access to public transport, cycling and
walking.
The Retail Monitoring System was set up in 1999 and is
based on an annual survey of local authorities covering
retail development proposals with a gross floor area of
1,000 sq. metres or more. It is intended to monitor the
effectiveness of the Executive's retail planning
policies.
Planning policy in National Planning Policy Guideline 8:
Town Centres and Retailing seeks to give priority and
support to town centres. The guideline sets out a
sequential approach in which town centres should be the
first choice for new retail and commercial leisure
developments, followed by edge of centre locations, with
out of centre sites providing options only where no
suitable town centre sites are available.
The survey results are available on the Scottish
Executive's planning website:
www.scotland.gov.uk/planning
Following completion of 5 years of the annual survey an
analysis of the trends over that time have been completed.
This report is also available on the above website.
'Brownfield' is defined as sites which have previously
been developed or used for some purpose which has ceased.
This may include the re-use of existing buildings by
conversion, demolition and new build, clearance of vacant
or derelict land and new build; infills and various other
forms of intensification. 'Other' includes land previously
incorporated within the same development required for
extension of buildings (e.g. development over car park
areas).