Town Centres and Retailing - Overview and Policy Context

Town centres are important hubs for a range of land uses and activities, and can have a positive impact on those who live, work and visit them. They provide a wide variety of retailing and related facilities, including employment, leisure and cultural uses. Our towns' high streets also play an important role in bringing people together and can foster a sense of community and place. The Regional Development Strategy 2035 (RDS) recognises the importance of accessible, vibrant city and town centres which offer people more local choice for shopping, social activity and recreation. In particular spatial framework guidance (SFG 3) identifies the need to enhance the distinctive role of Belfast City Centre as the primary retail location in Northern Ireland, and in relation to future major retail development proposals it promotes a precautionary approach based on the likely risk of out of centre shopping development having an adverse impact on the city centre area. The RDS also highlights the need to strengthen and secure the role of Derry/Londonderry as the principal city for the North West. It is important that planning supports the role of town centres and contributes to their success. The SPPS seeks to encourage development at an appropriate scale in order to enhance the attractiveness of town centres, helping to reduce travel demand. The aim of the SPPS is to support and sustain vibrant town centres across Northern Ireland through the promotion of established town centres as the appropriate first choice location of retailing and other complementary functions, consistent with the RDS.