Retail Warehousing

13.28 The town has experienced a significant growth in the amount of retail warehousing over recent years. A cluster of retail units exists at Moreton Hall and provides a destination for the purchase of bulky goods for the town's shopping catchment area. The Borough Council will look to keep this area, as shown on the Proposals Map, for bulky goods retail floorspace.

POLICY BSE8: ST EDMUNDSBURY RETAIL PARK - BURY ST EDMUNDS

A site is identified on the Proposals Map bounded by Bedingfeld Way and the A14 and including Greyfriars Road as the St Edmundsbury Retail Park.

In addition to the policies elsewhere in this Plan, proposals for all retail floorspace on this site will be judged against the following criteria:

• 1. The need for the proposal is demonstrated; and
  2. That a sequential approach has been adopted in selecting the site demonstrating that all potential suitable, viable and available sites have been evaluated; and
  3. Where appropriate, the impact of the proposal on the vitality and viability of Bury St Edmunds town centre and local centres, including the cumulative impact of recently completed developments and unimplemented planning permissions, taking into account the results of a shopping impact study and/or an environmental assessment; and
  4. That the site is accessible by a choice of means of transport in accordance with Policy T2.

13.29 The consultants who undertook the retail appraisal identified a potential requirement for an additional 10,600 sq. metres gross floorspace for bulky goods floorspace in Bury St Edmunds in the Local Plan period. At the time of the appraisal there were outstanding planning permissions for approximately 7,000 sq. metres gross, resulting in a need to identify a site or sites for around 3,600 sq. metres gross to meet the projected demand. It is anticipated that some of this requirement will be met through extensions to existing retail warehouses. Policy TCR1will apply in considering proposals for new retail warehousing development in the town.