A bid to overturn strict planning regulations at a Perth retail park has been described as a “significant threat” to the city centre.
Many of the units at St Catherine’s Retail Park North are subject to significant restrictions, preventing them from selling specific goods in a bid to protect the high street.
Owner Episo Boxes GP Limited is now hoping to have this criteria relaxed, which will allow potential new tenants to sell convenience goods, including food.
Although Perth and Kinross Council’s development quality manager Nick Brian is keen to grant their request, concerns have been raised about the effect it could have on Perth retailers.
Formal objections were made by the Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd (USS Ltd), owner of the St John’s Shopping Centre.
Describing itself as “the biggest investor in Perth”, the pension scheme claimed any change to restrictions would pose a “significant threat”.
Acting on behalf of the firm, Neil Hancock, of Deloitte LLP, said: “The proposal is the latest in a series of relaxations at St Catherine’s Retail Park.
“USS Ltd has consistently objected to these proposals on the basis that they pose a significant threat, both individually and cumulatively to the city centre.
“The retail study submitted by USS Ltd when objecting to this last proposal predicted that these relaxations would have a cumulative negative impact on the city centre of 18.7%.
“Cumulatively, these changes are threatening the vitality and viability of the city centre and may serve to discourage future inward investment.”
Significant work has been carried out on the north side of St Catherine’s Retail Park over the last 12 months to improve the car park and create pedestrian walkways.
This has now attracted potential tenants and Episo Boxes GP Limited has confirmed it is close to concluding “significant” new lettings.
Before it can complete any negotiations, however, the firm needs permission from the local authority to modify the existing planning consent on one of the units, namely the former premises of MFI, which have lain empty for several years.
In a report, which will go before members of the council’s development management committee tomorrow, Mr Brian outlined the latest proposals.
He said: “This application seeks the modification of one of the existing planning obligations to allow for up to 426 square metres of the gross retail space of unit four to be used for convenience goods, including food.
“In addition to this, the application seeks to define the unit four to 1,421 square metres of floor space.
“It must be highlighted that this is not a planning application but an application seeking permission to amend the terms of the existing planning obligation, which controls unit sizes and the type of goods that can be sold in the northern part of the retail park.”
Mr Brian also denied that there would be any adverse effect on the city centre.
“To date, these have not resulted in movement from the central retail core, particularly in relation to smaller units,” he added.
“The argument suggested within the letter of representation that a framework agreed for one part of the retail park should not hold for the remainder given the similarity and proximity of the retail operations is unrealistic and not supportable.”
He recommended the report for approval, saying it would assist in the “much-needed” regeneration of the retail park and “improve the future economic competitiveness of Perth”.