TAN 4 - Retailing and Town Centres - 1996

This TAN provides background on crucial planning matters affecting the vitality and viability of town centres, including area-wide statistics on population change, retail provision and shopping expenditure.

Turnover in relation to floorspace, yields and rents, customer and retailer views, pedestrian access and movement and environmental quality are just some of the topics briefly addressed.

Major retail development applications are recommended to provide an impact assessment, adopting a broad approach which may include effects beyond the local planning authority boundaries.

The importance of changes of use, car parking standards and management are emphasised, as is the environmental assessment of large retail projects. Annexes cover terminology and town centre management.

View 'Technical Advice Note 4: Retailing and Town Centres - 1996' here (DOC 64kb).