Retail Warehouse – PLanning and Demand

@Lobby wrote:

Am working on a request for further information from a Co Co in relation to a PP for retail warehousing.

The PP was for a set of retail warehouse buildings which are an extension of an already existing retail park. The Co Co has requested that the case for these units must be commercially justified given that there are presently some vacant units in other areas of the city.

Given that the land is zoned for this usage, how rigorous would such a reply need to be? Are the Co Co qualified to determine if a business case is justified or not – i.e. is thi swithin their remit?

I feel a Retail Impact Assessment coming on:o

Twas done, however, the catchment area used was rejected – primarily as it was similar to one used for an identical PP about a year ago.

I hadn’t thought catchment areas changed……..

@Lobby wrote:

Twas done, however, the catchment area used was rejected – primarily as it was similar to one used for an identical PP about a year ago.

I hadn’t thought catchment areas changed……..

Whilst in college we got an RIA as a report project-nearly everyone’s initial assumptions were wrong and many had to go back and er..nobble the variables. I’d be pretty sure something similar happens in real life, e.g using Regional per capita income levels over county ones etc.. Catchment would be even more subjective I would imagine

I think it is a fair request as empty units attract 100% rates remission. However a planner would rarely be qualified to make pronouncements on the market. There are two agencies who have more or less monopolised the out of town retail market one UK owned and the other an independent Dublin practice. A report from either of these would answer the question; but the scheme would of course be decided on the basis of the development plan.

@Lobby wrote:

I hadn’t thought catchment areas changed……..

If another retail warehousing park was planned/under construction, while not in the immediate catchment area, but had included some of your catchment area then the PA might consider that your catchment area has changed.

Are the units vacant long ? Will the gross area of the development, including the proposed extension be within the requirements /thresholds of the Local Authorithy’s Retail Strategy? If the area exceeds , thast of the Retail Strategy, the PA would have a case for you to justify the additional area.