Comment
Draft Local Plan
Representation ID: 15735
Received: 11/05/2016
Respondent: Wyevale Garden Centres Ltd
Agent: Greogory Gray Associates
Although the policy reflects the 'town centre first' approach advocated within the NPPF, however we request that regard is also had to para. 23 of the Framework which states (inter alia) that LPAs should "set policies for the consideration of proposals for main town centre uses which cannot be accommodated in or adjacent to town centres".
This is applicable to specialist uses, such as garden centres, where the high bulk, low value of the goods sold, together with a need for access by private vehicle, renders a town centre location generally inappropriate and unviable. As such, the retail policies of the emerging Local Plan should recognize the need for such retailers to be located in out of centre locations and the inappropriateness of applying the sequential test in their regard.
See attached.