At the hearings concerns were raised that the modelling and data which informed the retail space allocations in the draft local plan were considered out-of-date, shopping behaviours have radically changed. TTL’s expectation is that land allocated for retail could be reassigned for housing, reducing the need to build on green belt land. It is not clear why NHDC did not take the opportunity offered by the hearing to suggest a reduced allocation of land for retail.
Now that we appear to be emerging from the main Covid-19, it is becoming clear which outlets have survived, which have not and which retail modes of operation have changed substantially. It seems to us unsound to exclude that reality from the Plan.