Retail (A class) development (2011/2012 – 2018/2019)

Monitoring changes in A4 Use Class

Use Class A4 - drinking establishments.

Completions

In the period 2011-2018 there has been a net loss of around 12,000sqm of A4 floorspace through completions.

The majority of the net loss of A4 floorspace has been through the redevelopment of public houses in the borough, this trend is repeated across all years. For example, in the financial year 2011/12 ten of twelve applications resulted in the demolition or redevelopment of existing public houses.

The financial year 2015/16 had a net increase in A4 floorspace despite two of three applications proposing a net or gross change in A4 floorspace were for the redevelopment of public houses and the loss of A4 floorspace; Hermitage House (14/AP/4816) -281 sqm net, and Glengall Tavern (16/AP/0489) -243 sqm net. The completion of a conversion of vacant railway arches to a shop and drinking establishment (14/AP/4721) contributed 646 sqm net of A4 floorspace.

The completion of applications delivering less than 1000 sqm of net (and gross) of A4 has contributed to all of the net less of A4 floorspace across the time period.

Table 9 - Net and gross completions of schemes involving A4 floorspace

Approvals

In the period 2011-2018 there has been a net loss of around 4,200sqm of A4 floorspace through approvals. Around 21% of applications involving A4 floorspace have expired over the last 10 years, this is a comparitively high lapse rate of applications.

Across the period, the net loss of A4 floorspace is significantly less than the net loss through completions over the same period. Similarly to completions the majority of the net loss of A4 floorspace has been through the redevelopment of public houses in the borough. In the financial year 2012/13 all applications proposing a net or gross change in A4 floorspace where for the demolition or redevelopment of public houses.

The only years to approve a net increase in A4 floorspace have been through the approval of major applications delivering over 1000 sqm net of A4 floorspace. In the financial year 2016/17, the approval of the redevelopment of 1 Bank End (15/AP/3066) will deliver 2795 sqm net. In the financial year 2018/19, the redevelopment of Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre (16/AP/4458) will deliver 1336 sqm net of A4 floorspace. Across the period, 4,132 sqm net of A4 floorspace was approved through applications proposing over 1000 sqm of A4 floorspace, whilst -8,415 sqm net was approved though applications proposing less than 1000 sqm of A4 floorspace.

Table 10 - Net and gross approvals of schemes involving A4 floorspace

Page last updated: 05 April 2023