Untitled - Cork City Council

Cork Strategic Retail Study
• Suburbs : 20% - 21,000m 2
• OMA : 50% - 52,000m 2
• Rest of County : 30% - 31,000m 2
6.68 Development of retail warehousing will need to be carefully monitored over time and
this distribution re-consider in the light of development trends and market
expectations.
Showrooms
6.69 Motor showrooms are self explanatory, relating to the display and sale of motor cars,
and commercial, agricultural and marine vehicles such as power boats. Other
showrooms are defined as a building uses for the display of goods. Examples of
showrooms included spaces exhibiting high tech / electronic appliances; building
materials; art pieces/paintings; heavy duty copiers / printers; musical instruments;
sports equipment etc.
6.70 In the same way that Retail Parks are defined as planned groupings of retail
warehouses, different types of showroom formats can be accommodated in locations
designated in development plans. Such developments may be located in areas
designated for retail park development and in parts of industrial areas that have a high
profile along main corridors. Motor showrooms can also be ancillary and
complementary to retail park development and be designated in locations that have a
high profile along main corridors within town environs as dedicated motor showroom
parks.
6.71 Trade parks refer to those outlets predominantly frequented by professional trade
persons, e.g. relating to residential and commercial construction completion,
particularly referring to interiors such as kitchens, bathrooms, office and other
installations. They are predominantly trade centres offering discounts to professionals
but not to individual customers. They do not include outlets normally accommodated in
town centres or in retail parks and specifically exclude toy and other outlets where
retail is predominantly to the individual customer. Trade parks and can be ancillary to
and complementary to retail park development.
6.72 Where designated in development plans, planning applications for a trade park should
be required to indicate planned layouts, with associated car parking, access and
landscaping. Planning permission should include conditions restricting retail in trade
parks primarily to professional trades.
Internet Shopping
6.73 This has had minimal effective penetration as yet. It is anticipated that there may be
marginal penetration in the comparison/bulky goods sector in the future. Internet
retailing will not replace to any extent convenience or supermarket retailing, as orders
are filled from the local supermarket rather than dedicated distribution warehouses.
Policies should not be based on an anticipation of significant internet penetration in the
convenience goods area. Our expenditure projections for comparison goods take
account of a predicted shift in spending to e-tailing.
Factory Outlet Centres
6.74 These are not a significant part of the existing retail provision in County Cork. This is a
niche format which could be accommodated in special circumstances in or close to
towns that have an established tourism function, where they can strengthen the town
and create commercial linkages. In order to benefit towns and avoid adverse impact, it
is essential that they be located in or close to town centres and with excellent public
transport links, as indicated in the Retail Planning Guidelines.
Petrol Station Shops
6.75 The preferred location for petrol filling stations is often designated in development
plans as being on the edge of a town or village and close to the speed limit. The policy
Roger Tym & Partners with Simon Clear & Associates
March 2008 50