National Planning Policy Guidance
I write on behalf of Accessible Retail (AR), the organisation which represents the property interests of the retail warehouse and retail park sector of the retail industry. AR has over 1000 members comprising owners/investors, developers, retailers and advisers, a membership which includes most of the major companies active in the sector.
The majority of our member’s interests are located in out-of-centre locations, but also, they have significant town centre interests. The retail industry constitutes a major part of the UK economy accounting for some 8% of GDP and employing nearly 3 million people. Of this, retail warehouses and retail parks comprise some 30% of total retail spend from 3% of all retail outlets, with significant property assets of which over half is owned by pension funds and other institutional investors.