While policy SC 4: Retail Development provides the basis for considering all retail developments above a certain threshold, a policy is also required to set out the position with regard to smaller developments, and this should be read along with policy SC 7: Provision of Local Retail Facilities. Clarification of policy is also required with regard to new retail capacity provided by conversion from another use rather than through new construction, to ancillary use of non-retail premises for the conduct of retail sales, to garage forecourt shops, to the special status of certain retail warehouse club developments under the Use Classes Order following upon court cases in England, and to wholesale cash and carry premises.

Proposals for retail developments with characteristics not specifically covered by policy SC 4: Retail Development will be considered as described below.

(a) Food stores, or extensions to food stores, not exceeding 1,000 square metres gross floorspace, and all other retail developments not exceeding 2,000 square metres gross floorspace, will be assessed in relation to the suitability of the site in respect of infrastructural, environmental and amenity considerations, and the Development Policy Principles and other policies of this Plan. New developments which are not in or on the edge of a centre (see Policies SC1: The City’s Hierarchy of Centres and SC2: The Sequential Approach for Retail and Commercial Leisure Developments) should be located to provide maximum accessibility to the community that they serve, particularly for those of limited mobility and/or who shop on foot. Accordingly, such developments will generally be most appropriately located in or beside residential areas in preference to industrial or other non-residential neighbourhoods, except where specifically intended to serve places of employment or to provide ancillary sales facilities in association with other facilities.

(b) Any proposal for the change of use of a property to retail use will be considered in relation to the relevant policies as if it were a new development.

(c) Retail sales will be permitted in non-retail premises subject to that use being clearly ancillary to the primary use of those premises, and subject to a maximum gross retail floorspace of 500 m² or 25% of the total floorspace, whichever is the lesser. This provision is limited to the sale of non-food products. Particular regard will be had to the effects of any loss of industrial space.

(d) Garage forecourt shops will require to comply with the relevant policies of this Plan in the same way as other retail developments. They should not generally exceed a gross retail floorspace of 500 m², unless specifically justified under policy SC 4, or under criterion (a) of this policy.

(e) Retail warehouse clubs may, if appropriate, be deemed ‘sui generis’ uses in terms of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Scotland) Order 1997, but all proposals for such developments will be considered according to the policies of this Plan as if they were Class 1 uses.

(f) Wholesale cash and carry stores will be deemed to be uses under Class 6 of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Scotland) Order 1997, and retail sales to the public will not be permitted.