CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION
In accordance with policy SC 2: The Sequential Approach for Retail and Commercial Leisure Developments, and to maintain and enhance the vitality and viability of the City Centre, the preferred location for large scale retail, commercial leisure and entertainment, and other complementary uses is the Principal Retail Area (see Development Policy Principles Map City Centre). This will be the defined town centre for the City Centre in terms of National Planning Policy Guideline 8: Town Centres and Retailing (NPPG 8). Those parts of the Principal Retail Area that fall within the Establishing Residential Areas shall be subject to other policies designed to protect residential amenity (see policy CC/RES1: Residential Development and Amenity).
Retail, leisure and entertainment and related developments outwith the Principal Retail Area may also be acceptable within the areas defined as edge-of-centre on Centre Map C1/CC. Schedule CC/SC(i) shows how this policy will operate for different types and scales of development. In general, commercial leisure and smaller-scale retail developments will be acceptable within the edge-of-centre Area 1, while hotels, sports facilities and licensed premises will also be acceptable within the wider Area 2. Development proposals falling outwith these specific locational parameters will only be considered favourably if it is conclusively demonstrated by the applicant that no site within the preferred area or areas is available for a development of the nature proposed. Retail developments of over 5,000m2 gross retail floorspace (with the possible exception of one food superstore - see policy SC 4: Retail Development, schedule SC(iii)), will not normally be permitted outwith the Principal Retail Area.
Developments within the City Centre but outwith the Principal Retail Area or edge-of-centre areas will be deemed to be out-of-centre. They will be considered in relation to policy SC 2 and other appropriate policies of the Plan, and will require to be justified against the considerations contained in paragraph 45 of NPPG 8. The provision, stated in the text accompanying policy SC 2, allowing any site outwith, but not more than 100m from, the centre boundary to be considered ‘edge-of-centre’, will not apply to sites within the City Centre.
POLICY
Within the City Centre, the categories of retail, leisure and entertainment and related development indicated in schedule CC/SC(i) will be subject to a sequential approach in the selection of sites for new development. For all types of development, the preferred location will be the Principal Retail Area, although edge-of-centre locations may also be appropriate, depending on the type and scale of development, as indicated in the schedule. Proposals for such developments, located within the City Centre but outwith the Principal Retail Area or edge-of-centre areas, will not normally be considered favourably.
SCHEDULE CC/SC(i): CITY CENTRE - APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS FOR RETAIL, LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT AND RELATED DEVELOPMENT
This schedule lists the categories of retail and other commercial development that will be acceptable at specific locations within the City Centre. It is intended to complement schedule SC(ii) (policy SC 2), categories of commercial development subject to the sequential approach, and to apply its contents to the particular circumstances prevailing in the City Centre.
|
|
|
Appropriate location
(see centre map C1/CC) |
|
Category |
Size (Gross Floorspace except where indicated) |
Principal Retail Area |
Edge-of-centre: Area 1 |
Edge-of-centre: Area 2 |
|
Retail developments |
Over 5,000m² (non-food) |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Retail developments |
Over 1,000m² (food)
2,000 - 5,000m² (non-food) |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Retail developments |
Up to 1,000m2 (food)/2,000m² (non-food) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Cinemas/Cinema Complexes |
All |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Theatres, Concert Halls, Museums, Public Art Galleries |
All |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Bingo Halls, Dance Halls, Night Clubs, Indoor Bowls, Ice Rinks, Swimming Pools, Indoor Sports Complexes |
All |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Large Public Houses and Restaurants |
Over 500m² |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Other Civic Activities |
All |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Note:
Schedule SC(iii) (policy SC 4: Retail Development) identifies an opportunity for one food superstore in the City Centre.
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