This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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High Street on top in shopping battle
29/07/2004
Scotland's high streets are holding their own against out of town shopping developments, thanks to planning guidance supporting town centre regeneration.
The Executive's Retail Development Survey shows that since current guidance was introduced 5 years ago, more shopping floorspace has been approved and built in or near town centres than on out-of-centre sites.
And for those developments constructed, there has consistently been greater use made of brownfield sites.
Deputy Minister for Communities, Mary Mulligan said: "Supporting healthy urban centres with a good range of shops and other activities is a key part of creating stronger communities.
"A good mix inside towns has benefits for transport, the environment and quality of life.
"But we also recognise that for some people other centres are convenient. We want to support that choice, but not at the expense of our green spaces. That's why it is reassuring that over the last years, our guidance has successfully encouraged reuse and regeneration of brownfield sites.
"We're also in the process of updating our planning system, and this research will help us shape our policies so that they reflect the needs of communities across the country."
Survey results from 1998 to 2002 indicate that:
· More retail floorspace is constructed in town centre and edge of centre locations (55 per cent) than in out-of-centre and out-of-town locations. (45 per cent)
· Greenfield developments under construction reduced from 60,000 sq m in 1998 to nil in both 2001 and 2002.
· In 2002 over two thirds of floorspace constructed was on brownfield sites. The remainder was in other locations, e.g. the adaptation of existing facilities like Edinburgh's Mulberry Walk development over St Andrew's bus station.
· Applications for retail development have remained steady recently, with 92 applications in 2001 totalling 565,000 sq. metres, and 93 applications in 2002, totalling 495,000 sq. metres.
Our planning policies look to promote new development and regeneration in town centres, the reuse of previously developed land and expecting developments to be located with better access to public transport, cycling and walking.
The Retail Monitoring System was set up in 1999 and is based on an annual survey of local authorities covering retail development proposals with a gross floor area of 1,000 sq. metres or more. It is intended to monitor the effectiveness of the Executive's retail planning policies.
Planning policy in National Planning Policy Guideline 8: Town Centres and Retailing seeks to give priority and support to town centres. The guideline sets out a sequential approach in which town centres should be the first choice for new retail and commercial leisure developments, followed by edge of centre locations, with out of centre sites providing options only where no suitable town centre sites are available.
The survey results are available on the Scottish Executive's planning website: www.scotland.gov.uk/planning
Following completion of 5 years of the annual survey an analysis of the trends over that time have been completed. This report is also available on the above website.
'Brownfield' is defined as sites which have previously been developed or used for some purpose which has ceased. This may include the re-use of existing buildings by conversion, demolition and new build, clearance of vacant or derelict land and new build; infills and various other forms of intensification. 'Other' includes land previously incorporated within the same development required for extension of buildings (e.g. development over car park areas).