Assessment of Planning and Retail Issues - Renfrewshire Council
Assessment of Planning and Retail Issues - Renfrewshire Council
Assessment of Planning and Retail Issues - Renfrewshire Council
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PROPOSED EXTENSIONS AT 10 ASSESSMENT OF PLANNING AND RETAIL ISSUES<br />
BRAEHEAD RETAIL PARK MAY 2010<br />
compare potential purchases, <strong>and</strong> - because the proposals do not involve any new<br />
parking spaces - will ensure a reduction in the ratio <strong>of</strong> parking spaces per square<br />
metre <strong>of</strong> floorspace at Braehead, thus further promoting sustainable travel<br />
patterns.<br />
2.25 Criterion (I) is not relevant as it does not relate to retail warehouse locations, <strong>and</strong><br />
the current proposals could not achieve the enhancement <strong>of</strong> the Braehead <strong>Retail</strong><br />
Park if they were located in any <strong>of</strong> the locations listed in Schedule 6(c)(iv).<br />
2.26 Criterion (j) refers to the contribution <strong>of</strong> the development to remedying any<br />
qualitative deficiencies in existing retail provision. Given that there have been no<br />
improvements to the retail park since it was constructed, other than one minor<br />
unit subdivision, <strong>and</strong> that other retail warehousing destinations have been<br />
established <strong>and</strong>/or significantly improved since then, it is considered that the<br />
Braehead <strong>Retail</strong> Park has become disadvantaged in qualitative terms, <strong>and</strong> that<br />
some enhancement is long overdue.<br />
2.27 Criterion (k) does not apply.<br />
2.28 Turning now to the ‘B’ criteria relating to whether the location <strong>of</strong> the<br />
development is appropriate, the relevant tests are to ensure that the vitality <strong>and</strong><br />
viability <strong>of</strong> town centres is safeguarded <strong>and</strong> promoted by applying the sequential<br />
approach, promote sustainable transport, avoid risk <strong>of</strong> flooding, avoid negative<br />
impact on health <strong>and</strong> safety, <strong>and</strong> contribute to the implementation <strong>of</strong> the air quality<br />
strategy.<br />
2.29 We have already discussed the sequential approach <strong>and</strong> the fact that the SPP<br />
indicates that it does not apply in this instance. So far as the Structure Plan’s policy<br />
on the sequential approach is concerned, as set out in Schedule 6(c)(ii), as<br />
amended by the Fourth Alteration, this states that the preference should be for<br />
town centre sites where sites or buildings suitable for conversion are available, <strong>and</strong><br />
that locations which are easily accessible by a choice <strong>of</strong> means <strong>of</strong> transport,<br />
especially public transport, should be preferred. In this case it is clear that it would<br />
not be possible to enhance the Braehead <strong>Retail</strong> Park using sites or buildings<br />
elsewhere in <strong>Renfrewshire</strong>. The location is easily accessible <strong>and</strong> well served by<br />
public transport.<br />
2.30 We commented previously on the ways in which the proposals will promote<br />
sustainable transport. Drainage information is being submitted with the