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1998 Retail Development Survey

2. Background / Methodology

2.1 The Scottish Executive Development Department considers that a monitoring system for retail development within Scotland is desirable in order to:

1. Provide the basis for annual retail monitoring reports.
2. Assist the review of the performance of planning policy and its implementation.
3. Provide a mechanism by which specific questions can be answered on retail planning and development in Scotland.

2.2 In 1998 consultants¹ were commissioned to provide advice on the design, content and implementation of a system to enable regular monitoring of retail development activity. The research examined the data requirements necessary to support monitoring as well as data availability, and devised a system for the collection of data. It also undertook pilot studies to test the recommended system and provided baseline information on retail development in Scotland during the 1990's.

2.3 During April 1999, electronic survey sheets were sent to the 32 Scottish local authorities, for them to record details of all retail developments that were in the planning system, under construction or which commenced trading during 1998. The completed datasheets were returned during the subsequent months, and the coded information was then collated centrally and stored using an Access database.

2.4 The data has been analysed using database queries and spreadsheets to identify and present the statistics and trends outlined in this bulletin. It is hoped that the information provided will be of use to planning authorities and developers wishing to identify market trends across Scotland. Where applicable, the information will also be used to assess the effectiveness of planning policy, including NPPG 8 (revised).

2.5 This bulletin is the product of the first annual retail development survey. In subsequent years it should be possible to explore trends and developments in the Scottish retail sector through comparative analysis.

1 Monitoring of Retail Developments, Scottish Office Central Research Unit, 1998

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