I have a query relating to a planning application for an out-of-centre retail park. The park currently has a condition on the units restricting the use to bulky goods only. The proposal seeks to vary the condition so non-bulky comparison goods can be sold. The applicant's approach to their impact is that only the impact of the net additional turnover needs to be assessed (eg the bulky goods units have a turnover of £20m, the use for non-bulky goods would have a turnover of £25m, so they are only assessing the £5m difference). Our view is that the proposals could result in an increase in non-bulky goods sales from nothing to £25m. Therefore the impact of £25m of non-bulky goods sales should be assessed, not just the net increase in comparison goods as a whole of £5m. Has anyone got any experience of this, or advice on how they would approach it?
