Policy information sourced from the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan

SADM 5 Development outside Designated Centres

Individual Convenience Shops

The Council will resist proposals which result in the loss of individual convenience shops outside designated centres, even where ancillary to another use (such as petrol stations). Planning permission will only be granted where:

  1. The retail unit is vacant; and it can be clearly demonstrated through evidence of extensive, active and realistic marketing over a period of at least 12 months that there is a lack of demand for a shop in that location; or
  2. Alternative convenience retail provision is available within an 800m walking distance (not straight line distance); or
  3. The replacement land use offers compelling benefits which outweigh the loss

Any new individual small convenience shops should not exceed 280 sq.m gross. Extensions to individual small convenience shops should not create a unit which exceeds 280 sq.m gross.

Out-of-Centre Retail

Except for Individual Convenience Shops of less than 280sq.m, proposals for new retail development in out-of-centre locations (including the extension of existing retail stores) will be resisted unless it has been demonstrated that no suitable, viable and available sites exist in sequentially preferable locations - see the Sequential Approach in Policy SP 5. The Council will also refuse planning permission for the relaxation or removal of conditions on the type of goods that can be sold from existing out-of-centre units.

For more information please see the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan