1. Introduction and Summary
1.1 This report summarises the results of the 2004 Scottish Retail Development Survey. The Survey is a co-operative effort between local authorities and the Scottish Executive Development Department. It involves the monitoring of all retail developments over 1,000 sq. m (gross) which are recorded as 'active' by local authorities during the calendar year (A guide to different planning stages is set out in Figure 1). All 32 local authorities provided returns, although 4 (East Renfrewshire, Eilean Siar, Orkney Islands and the Shetlands) registered a nil return for the year.
1.2 The following main points emerge from the 2004 survey (all figures have been rounded to the nearest '000 sq. m):
- Number of entries: during the year, 260 retail developments were recorded as being 'active' at some stage of the planning process.
- Distribution of entries: Glasgow and Clyde Valley and Lothian Structure Plan areas together accounted for some 44% of all entries (compared to 45% in 2003, 52% in 2002 and 50% in 2001.) (Refer to table 2.)
- Applications: 96 retail planning applications were submitted, proposing 623,000 sq. m of floorspace. This is a slightly lower number than 2003 in terms of entries although 61,000 sq. m more in terms of floorspace. (Refer to tables 1 & 3).
- Refusals: 9 applications (44,000 sq. m) were refused consent without the possibility of further appeal, and a further 5 applications (34,000 sq. m) were refused consent, pending the prospect of further appeal, public inquiry or call-in. (Refer to tables 1 & 3.)
- Retail Format: Most applications submitted were for superstores (24/139,000 sq. m) followed by retail warehouse units (14/ 56,000 sq. m). (Refer to table 7.)
- Sequential Approach: More floorspace was approved in town centre/edge of centre locations (259,000 sq. m) than elsewhere (210,000 sq. m). Most refusals were in edge of centre locations. (Refer to table 13.)
- Sequential Approach and Retail Format: Most approved 'mixed' retail development was in town centre / edge of centre locations (128,000 sq. m out of a total of 154,000 sq. m). Most approved
comparison development continued this year to be in out of centre/out of town locations (130,000 sq. m out of a total of 156,000 sq. m). (Refer to tables 6,18 & 19.) - Brownfield Development: Brownfield locations have dominated over greenfield locations for the whole 7 years of this survey and at all stages - 82% approvals, 89% applications, 84% of those developments newly trading. (Refer to tables 11, 16 & 17.)
- Under Construction: 30 qualifying retail developments (for 163,000 sq. m) were under construction during 2004 (compared to 22 covering 123,000 sq. m in 2003 and 24 covering 144,000 sq. m in 2002). (Refer to table 1.)
- Newly Trading: 37 new developments (175,000 sq. m) began trading in 2004 (compared to 30 covering 131,000 sq. m in 2003 and 27 covering 113,000 sq. m in 2002). Most were located in Dundee, Moray, South Ayrshire and West Lothian. (Refer to tables 1 & 3.)
1.3 Broad comparisons with results from 1998 to 2003 data are set out in figures 2 to 5.