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.
SPP Update
As part of the commitment to proportionate and practical planning polices, the Scottish Government is rationalising the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) and National Planning Policy Guidance (NPPG) series into a single, shorter statement of national planning policy. The initial sections of the consolidated SPP were published in October 2008 as Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) covering the core principles, aspirations and expectations of the planning system. The remaining sections of the consolidated SPP, covering community engagement, sustainable development, outcomes and the subject policies, were published for consultation in April 2009. The consultation closed in June 2009. A further consultation on changes to the sustainable development, climate change, flooding and coastal planning sections and to policy on onshore oil and gas operations and high amenity business locations is running from September 30, 2009 until November 12, 2009. The final consolidated SPP will at published by the end of 2009. More information on the consolidation is available on the SPP home page.