Retailing in the Rural Areas

5.24 Outside the shopping centres as defined on the Inset Maps and referred to in Chapter 7, the provision of local shops (Use Class A1) can provide a benefit to the immediate community as well as financial and professional services (Use Class A2) and food and drink uses (Use Classes A3, A4 and A5). However, care needs to be taken on the location and operational requirements of these shops in order to limit the potential impact on the locality. For clarification, the following policy does not apply to the shopping centres of the Rural Service Centres (defined in Chapter 2) as this policy restricts the floorspace of retail proposals to a maximum of 150 sq. metres. Retail proposals in the shopping centres of the Rural Service Centre villages will be assessed against Policy TCR1.

POLICY RU9: RETAIL PROPOSALS WITHIN RURAL HOUSING SETTLEMENT BOUNDARIES

In addition to the policies elsewhere in this Plan, proposals for new retail development, including the change of use of buildings, within the Housing Settlement Boundaries and other rural settlements (but excluding defined shopping centres in the Rural Service Centres) will be approved where:

• i) the proposal meets a local need;
• ii) the proposal is small in scale (not exceeding 150 sq. metres in net floor area); and
  iii) the proposal falls within Use Classes A1, A2, A3, A4 or A5.

5.25 Shops and other facilities in villages provide a vital lifeline for many communities. The protection of viable facilities is essential to the livelihood of rural areas. All too often village shops, post offices and public houses have closed, leading to rural isolation and social exclusion. Local shops are generally under threat from car-based shopping patterns that favour large out-of-town stores. The Borough Council will resist the change of use or redevelopment of existing village shops, post offices and public houses in villages. This approach is in line with the St Edmundsbury Borough Council Rural Services Review Action Plan (2004) which seeks to retain services in villages.

POLICY RU10: PROTECTION OF RURAL SERVICES

Proposals for the redevelopment or change of use of shops, post offices, public houses, garages and other service facilities within the rural areas will not be permitted unless it can be demonstrated that every effort has been made to retain the building in its existing use.

The local planning authority will have regard to:

• a) the provision of supporting evidence to show that the business cannot be made financially viable or cannot be sold as an operational business after being marketed as such for not less than 12 months;
  b) whether the local community has demonstrated a willingness to operate the business or use as a community facility; and
  c) the layout and physical condition of the building and its contribution to the local community.

The partial redevelopment or change of use of a service facility, including development within the curtilage, which would prejudice its economic viability or future operation, will not be permitted.

The diversification of existing rural services to provide additional Class A1 uses which serve local needs will be encouraged.