1. Introduction

1.1. The retail sector in the Vale of Glamorgan is strongly influenced by its proximity and easy access to Cardiff City Centre which is the primary retail attractor within the region and offers a wide range and assortment of convenience and comparison shopping. Within the Vale of Glamorgan shopping provision is largely concentrated within Barry Town Centre and the District Retail Centres of Penarth, Cowbridge and Llantwit Major. Barry Town Centre provides for a broad range of retail, service, employment and leisure uses that serve more than a local need. Retail provision in the district centres is characterised by a range of local and national retailers and service providers that predominantly serve local catchment areas. Elsewhere within the Vale of Glamorgan, smaller independent retailers provide important daily convenience services for the immediate catchment area surrounding the local and neighbourhood centres. The major out of centre Retail Park at Culverhouse Cross on the eastern periphery of the Vale of Glamorgan is in close proximity to and impacts upon the main town and district centres of the Barry, Penarth and Cowbridge and is a significant retail attraction in its own right.

1.2. The Vale of Glamorgan Local Development Plan (LDP) 2011 – 2026 was adopted on 28^th June 2017 and provides the local policy framework for planning decisions in the Vale of Glamorgan. LDP Policy MG12 sets out the following retail hierarchy:

Town centres: Barry

District centres: Barry (High Street/Broad Street), Cowbridge, Llantwit Major, Penarth

Local centres: Barry: Main Street, Cadoxton; Vere Street, Cadoxton; Park Crescent; Barry Road, nr. Cadoxton; Upper Holton Road, Dinas Powys: Cardiff Road; Dinas Powys village centre, Penarth: Cornerswell Road, Rhoose: Fontygary Road, St Athan: The Square

Neighbourhood centres: Barry: Bron-y-Mor; Cwm Talwg; Gibbonsdown Centre; Park Road, Boverton, Dinas Powys: Camms Corner; Castle Court/The Parade, Font-y-Gary: Adenfield Way, Llantwit Major: Crawshay Drive, Penarth: Pill Street; Tennyson Road

1.3. This Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) document provides further guidance on the application of LDP retail polices which seek to protect the vitality, attractiveness, and viability of the designated retail centres in accordance with the approach outlined in national planning policy.

1.4. Since the preparation of the LDP there have been a number of changes in the Vale's retail centres resulting from the continued economic challenges facing local businesses and communities. For some centres, this has seen a reduction in traditional A1 retail units and an increase in longer term vacancies.

1.5. Future Wales – The National Plan places a stronger emphasis on the principle of 'Town Centre First'. It recognises that we need to re-think the future of town and city centres, which are moving away from their traditional retail roles towards more multi-functional places. Town centres remain important focal points of communities and are increasingly becoming places to live, centres of community and cultural activity, a focus for public services such as health and education, and the location of new co-working spaces.

1.6. This guidance aims to assist applicants and decision makers when considering specific changes of use in retail centres and other town centre developments, in accordance with adopted LDP policies, Future Wales and in light of other material considerations to ensure our retail centres are sustainable in the long term.