England · National documents
Town centres and retail
Explains town-centre planning, the sequential approach and the assessment of retail and leisure impacts.
AI-generated summaries of the linked official sources; not editorially reviewed. Sources and limits
Where this document applies
England: relevance depends on the proposal, site and planning process.
Town centres and retail (official source, opens in a new tab) · Reference ID 2b-001-20190722
Town centres serve several connected uses
The guidance considers changing shopping and leisure patterns and the role of a mix of uses, including housing and services, in supporting centres. Planning for their adaptation involves more than maintaining an unchanged retail layout.
Read the official source (official source, opens in a new tab) · Reference ID 2b-001-20190722
Limits and checks
- This national source does not establish the local policies, designations or site facts that apply to an individual proposal.
- Some guidance predates the August 2026 Framework and may refer to earlier policy numbering. Read it with the current Framework and any applicable transition provisions.
Read alongside this document
Put the national source in your local context
Start with the exact refusal reason. Note the policy and paragraph it cites, then check your authority’s policy summary and the facts discussed in relevant appeal decisions. Each appeal turns on its own facts and does not predict another outcome.