Policy information sourced from the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan
SP 5 Quantity and Location of Retail Development
The Council will support the provision of additional retail floorspace to meet forecast expenditure growth to at least 2033 in the defined retail centre hierarchy to deliver the functions set out in the table below. Priority will be given to the provision of additional comparison floorspace in Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City town centres.
Additionally, the Council will require:
- Small neighbourhood shopping centres including convenience retail floorspace, which would form part of the retail hierarchy, to be provided in the new neighbourhood of North West Hatfield (SDS5/Hat1) and in South East Welwyn Garden City (SDS2/WGC5), which forms part of Birchall Garden Suburb;
- At least one small convenience shop at the former Panshanger Airfield (SDS1/WGC4).
In addition, the Council will support the provision of a small neighbourhood shopping centre in the new neighbourhood of Birchall Garden Suburb in East Hertfordshire.
The Council will promote a range of activities in town centres that cater for the whole community, creating a balanced evening economy including entertainment and late night shopping as well as the provision of a range of eating and drinking establishments. In order to reinforce the retail function and viability of Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City town centres, Core Retail Zones have been identified along with their anchor stores, primary and secondary shopping frontages as shown on the Policies Inset Maps.
Shopping frontages have also been designated in the neighbourhood and village centres where there is a focus on convenience shopping and service facilities for the needs of the local community.
Sites for new development within existing and new centres have been allocated in this plan to meet the need for additional retail floorspace to meet the need to at least 2033.
As a part of a rolling programme of investment, the Council will seek to regenerate and renew Hatfield town centre and existing council-owned neighbourhood centres as defined in the retail hierarchy where this is required. The Council will also support the renewal and regeneration of other neighbourhood and village centres defined in the retail hierarchy.
Sequential Approach
If no suitable, viable and available sites exist in the identified centres (taking account of reasonable flexibility in the format of the proposal), then proposals for sites on the edge of those centres will be considered. If no edge of centre sites are suitable, viable and available, out-of-centre sites will be considered. It is not accepted that specific classes of goods cannot be sold from in-centre locations. Developments will need to demonstrate flexibility in their operational requirements in terms of their format.
Any retail proposals (including extensions) on sites outside centres in the retail hierarchy will be required to demonstrate compliance with the sequential approach to site selection. For those proposals exceeding 500 sq.m gross floorspace, it will have to be demonstrated that the proposal will not have an unacceptable impact on existing town centres. For those proposals exceeding 300sq.m gross floorspace, it will have to be demonstrated that the proposal will not have an unacceptable impact on existing neighbourhood and village centres.
For more information please see the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan