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Sequential test failings
The principle of ensuring that new retail and other facilities serving a town are located as far as possible at the centre of the town is sound. For the principle to work in practice though, the detailed planning must also be aligned to the same objectives.
Too often the principle is applied only in terms of the "site" being in or close to an existing defined town centre. For a new retail or other facility to be integrated with the existing centre the detailed layout and design must be geared to that. Too often this is not the case. Examples of design failings include:
- Car parking located on the part of the site nearest to the existing centre, thus needlessly increasing the walking distance between the two;
- Front doors located on the side of the building furthest from the existing centre or pedestrian routes;
- Only part of the site being within the required distance from the the existing centre (e.g. 300 metres), with most of the new facility sited further away than this.
- Surface car parking occupying a large portion of the potential walk-in catchment area.
keywords
Sequential test, retail planning, town centre planning, walk-in catchment, walkability, pedestrian, accessibilty, local facilities,urban structure, urban form
