Northern Area Plan 2016
Strategic Plan Framework: Retail, Services and Offices Regional Policy Context

The Regional Development Strategy (RDS) promotes multi-functional town centres as the prime locations for retail, service, administrative, leisure and cultural facilities. At present Planning Policy Statement 5: Retailing and Town Centres (PPS 5) and The Rural Strategy contain the relevant policies for guiding commercial development. It is intended, however, in the near future to replace PPS 5. It is also intended to replace Planning Policy Statement 4 (PPS 4) so that, in addition to industry, it will provide policy guidance for office and other commercial development. There are a number of Development Control Advice Notes that provide supplementary planning advice for amusement arcades, bookmaker offices, hot food bars, taxi offices, restaurants and cafes, and public houses.