The retention or, where necessary, new provision of local shops to serve all sections of the community, particularly persons of limited mobility, remains a major element in the Council’s overall objectives for retailing in the City, and is strongly supported by National Planning Policy Guideline 8: Town Centres and Retailing (NPPG8). Every encouragement will be given to proposals that augment, improve, or support the continuation of, existing local shopping facilities. Conversely, proposals that reduce shopping facilities, for example conversions of shop premises to other uses, will be carefully considered with regard to their overall effects on local shopping provision in the area concerned, and will be resisted if there is good reason to believe that the objective of retaining adequate local shopping is jeopardised. See also policies SC 8: Non-Retail Uses in Shopping Centres (Excluding the City Centre) and SC 9: Food and Drink.

The Council will encourage the retention, improvement and, where appropriate, new provision of local shopping facilities where necessary to ensure an adequate service to all sections of the community. Any application for the change of use of a Class 1 shop unit to another use will not be favourably considered if it conflicts with this objective.

This policy affects only neighbourhood centres and local shops (see policy SC 1: The City’s Hierarchy of Centres - schedule SC(i)).