Retail buildings
The term ‘retail’ refers to the sale of goods to the public for use or consumption rather than for resale. This is as opposed to wholesale, which refers to the selling of goods in larger quantities to be sold on by retailers at a profit.
Retail buildings are sometimes very broadly described as ‘shops’, however, they can take a wide range of generic forms:
- Town centre shops.
- Supermarkets and superstores.
- Retail warehouses and retail parks.
- Mixed use buildings, typically with retail spaces on the ground floor. These may be purpose built, or may be converted housing.
For the purposes of fire safety, the approved documents to the building regulations define shops and commercial purpose groups as: 'Shops or premises used for a retail trade or business (including the sale to members of the public of food or drink for immediate consumption and retail by auction, self-selection and over-the-counter wholesale trading, the business of lending books or periodicals for gain and the business of a barber or hairdresser and the rental of storage space to the public) and premises to which the public is invited to deliver or collect goods in connection with their hire repair or other treatment, or (except in the case of repair of motor vehicles) where they themselves may carry out such repairs or other treatments.'
For planning permission purposes, use class A1 ‘Shops’ is defined as: Shops, retail warehouses, hairdressers, undertakers, travel and ticket agencies, post offices, pet shops, sandwich bars, showrooms, domestic hire shops, dry cleaners, funeral directors and internet cafes.
Retail warehouses are large, single-level stores, typically with a minimum of 1000 square metres gross retail floorspace and normally selling goods for home improvement or gardening, furniture, electrical goods, carpets and so on. They are most commonly found in the fringe of towns or in out of town locations. See Retail warehouse for more information.
According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), for valuation purposes, ‘retail premises are divided into a number of zones each of a depth of 6.1 metres - or 20 feet. Zone A closest to the window is most valuable with the value decreasing with distance from the frontage: Zone B is the next 6.1 metres, then Zone C until the entire depth of the retail area is allocated to a zone - anything after Zone C is usually defined as the remainder.’ Ref https://www.rics.org/uk/knowledge/glossary/zoning/. The result is an adjusted 'ITZA' area that is less than the actual area to reflect the diminishing value of space the further back in the shop you go Ref http://www.propertymanagementguide.co.uk/resources/rent/zoning-itza-zone-a-rate-for-retail-property-rents
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- BEST Products showrooms.
- BREEAM and retail.
- BREEAM Retail prize 2016.
- High street (planning and policy).
- Kiosk.
- Main town centre uses.
- McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ashford.
- Multi-channel retailing.
- Rental method of rating valuation.
- Retail designers.
- Retail warehouse.
- Sample retail unit lease.
- Shops and commercial premises definition.
- Supermarket security and COVID-19.
- The impact of lighting in retail design.
- Types of building.
- Use class.
- What the new retail market will mean for the water sector.
Featured articles and news
Registered building inspectors
Building types and conflicts of interest updates explaineed.
Engineering services still struggle with labour shortages
According to latest quarterly services survey of the sector.
Infrastructure that connect the physical and digital domains.
Harnessing robotics and AI in challenging environments
The key to nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering.
BSRIA announces Lisa Ashworth as new CEO
Tasked with furthering BSRIA’s impressive growth ambitions.
Public buildings get half a million energy efficiency boost
£557 million to switch to cleaner heating and save on energy.
CIOB launches pre-election manifesto
Outlining potential future policies for the next government.
Grenfell Tower Inquiry announcement
Phase 2 hearings come to a close and the final report due in September.
Progress from Parts L, F and O: A whitepaper, one year on.
A replicated study to understand the opinion of practitioners.
ECA announces new president 2024
Electrical engineer and business leader Stuart Smith.
A distinct type of countryside that should be celebrated.
Should Part O be extended to existing buildings?
EAC brands heatwave adaptation a missed opportunity.
Definition of Statutory in workplace and facilities management
Established by IWFM, BESA, CIBSE and BSRIA.
Tackling the transition from traditional heating systems
59% lack the necessary information and confidence to switch.
The general election and the construction industry
As PM, Rishi Sunak announces July 4 date for an election.
Eco apprenticeships continue help grow green workforce
A year after being recognised at the King's coronation.