A retail frontages survey is usually required when a proposed development would result in the loss of retail frontage in a Primary or Secondary Retail Frontage Area.

A frontages survey seeks to establish the current uses of ground floor units within primary and secondary retail frontage areas. Working from maps, the identified areas are visited to collect evidence and establish Planning Use Classes. The study assesses shop parades/units as either primary frontages (predominantly A1 retail use) or secondary frontages with a diversity of uses. The information is collected during the site surveys, includes addresses, shop/unit names, their current uses and the identified Planning Use Classes. The results of the site visits are subsequently entered into a database. Photographic evidence is taken of each unit to support the ground research and to aid assessment of the information collected.

The National Planning Framework states in paragraph 86 that planning policies and decisions should “support the role that town centres play at the heart of local communities, by taking a positive approach to their growth, management and adaptation”.

The government has incrementally increased permitted development rights and as such there is now the flexibility to change shops to a variety of different uses without the need for planning permission – both on a temporary basis through the prior notification procedure and permanently. The removal of the need for planning permission for change of use from A1 retail to A2 professional services (i.e. banks) and vice versa may have an impact through largely uncontrolled changes between shops, banks and other financial/professional services.

The NPPF recognises the changing face of the high street and the need to take a different approach to retail planning policy in order to reinvigorate and adapt the offering focused in primary centres/core areas to successfully prepare for future; this includes suitable provision of housing within town centres.