The area designated ‘PRINCIPAL RETAIL AREA’ lies within Glasgow City Centre and is focused on the ‘Z’ pattern formed by Sauchiehall Street, Buchanan Street and Argyle Street. This is the heart of the City Centre’s shopping area, providing the focus for a variety of major and specialised outlets and associated jobs that benefit the City and the surrounding area. The Principal Retail Area is the preferred location for major retail and commercial leisure investment under the sequential approach to site selection, and will continue to be promoted for retail and related developments that extend the range of shopping choice. The Council will support retail and related developments that strengthen the role of this area and sustain and enhance the City Centre at the head of the regional shopping hierarchy. Although retailing is the predominant use, the Principal Retail Area contains various complementary uses, including housing, leisure and entertainment. This diversity of activities contributes to the vitality and viability of the City Centre as a whole, and will continue to be encouraged, as appropriate. The Council will seek to maintain and improve the quality of the environment of the area by supporting developments that will preserve or enhance its amenity and urban design quality and by resisting those that will detract from it, subject to other policies of the Plan. The western part of the Principal Retail Area overlaps with the Principal Office Area.