The Scottish Government

Town centres and retail

Successful town centres are the focus for a wide range of community and commercial activities. They provide a unique sense of place, character and identity. National planning policy should, therefore, establish a mix of uses and activities in town centres and, in particular, retail development. At the same time it should recognise that other commercial centres may sometimes be a better place to locate some forms of retailing and related developments.

Policy summary

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 8 -Town Centres and Retailing provides the key policy guidance and is supplimented by PAN 52 Planning in Small Towns and PAN 59 Improving Town Centres. SPP 8 advises that:

• The Scottish Government is committed to land use policies that secure vital and viable town centres;
• This involves focussing development in existing town centres by using a sequential approach to development;
• The retail sector has become increasingly diverse and complex reflecting people's changing needs;
• The development of shopping patterns takes in a range of different retail locations;
• The Scottish Government encourages the promotion of a network of centres.