The City’s pattern of retail and commercial activity is based on a network of centres, varying widely in size and function. The maintenance and enhancement of centres is now generally accepted as one of the foremost aims of the planning system. The concept of a hierarchy of such centres has provided the framework for policies to achieve this aim and, in Glasgow, continues to retain its validity.

Glasgow’s previous hierarchy of shopping centres derived from the regional hierarchy contained in the Strathclyde Structure Plan and earlier non-statutory shopping policies of the former District Council. The hierarchy set out in schedule SC(i) represents a modification of the previous hierarchy, with two centres (Easterhouse and Pollok) being advanced to tier 2, Partick and Byres Road forming a single combined centre also within tier 2, and certain of the smaller local centres being excluded from tier 4 and covered instead by the description ‘neighbourhood centres’ in part B of the schedule. Centres in tiers 1-3 correspond to those within the City described as ‘town centres to be safeguarded through structure and local plans’ in the Glasgow and The Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan.

Tiers 1 to 4 inclusive of the hierarchy, set out in part A of schedule SC(i), contain what are considered to be ‘town centres’ within the definition of National Planning Policy Guideline 8: Town Centres and Retailing (NPPG8). Accordingly, sites within, or on the edge, of these centres carry with them a presumption in favour of appropriate commercial development under the sequential approach (see policy SC 2: The Sequential Approach for Retail and Commercial Leisure Developments). The extent of each centre is shown on the Centre Maps sheet.

For completeness, part B of the schedule identifies ‘other major retail and commercial locations’, which contain, or will contain, large-scale retail facilities but which do not provide a range of facilities and services sufficient, and/or appropriately located, to justify their definition as ‘centres’ (they are considered to be ‘out-of-centre locations’ within the definition of NPPG 8); and ‘neighbourhood centres and local shops’, which provide a purely local function. These locations do not carry a presumption in favour of development under the sequential approach.

In approving the Joint Structure Plan, Scottish Ministers inserted a modification requiring the Joint Committee to hold discussions with the retailing industry on the assessment of retail requirements in the period beyond 2006, with a view to bringing forward a longer-term strategy for town centres and retailing as an Alteration to the Joint Structure Plan before the end of 2003. On completion of this process, the Council will review the content of this policy and, if appropriate, will seek to amend it at an early date to reflect any changes to the Joint Structure Plan.

The Metropolitan, Major Town, Town and Local Centres (tiers 1-4 respectively) listed in schedule SC(i), part A, will be maintained as the principal locations for commercial and civic activity, on a scale appropriate to each centre. Other retailing and commercial locations are listed in part B.

SCHEDULE SC(i): THE CITY’S HIERARCHY OF CENTRES

Part A of this schedule lists the centres within the City at each level of the Hierarchy. Although primarily retailing centres, these contain a range of commercial and civic activities of varying nature and scale. Schedule SC(ii) details the application of the sequential approach to site selection for various commercial developments, in respect of centres in tiers 1 - 4 (see policy SC 2). Major out-of-centre retailing and commercial locations, including retail parks, large retail stores and commercial leisure developments, as well as neighbourhood centres and local shops, are listed separately under Part B, Other Retail and Commercial Locations.

Centres marked * are adjoined by existing or proposed edge-of-centre retail developments (see Centre Maps sheet).