Introduction to Retail Planning Retail Partner Dublin
RGDATA is the only retail trade association that actively promotes and supports retail development that is pro-consumer, good for the environment and sustainable. RGDATA’s planning section monitors retail planning activity; makes observations and objections to unsustainable and out of town retail developments; makes submissions on planning policy and assists members with planning issues.
RGDATA worked hard to influence the introduction of the Government's Retail Planning Guidelines and we continue to actively represent members by ensuring the Guidelines are upheld. We support vibrant towns and villages and shops that people can walk to. We strongly oppose unsustainable out of town retail development.
RGDATA has been to the fore in advocating a planned approach to retail development in Ireland.
RGDATA opposes unsustainable out of town development and our position is backed up by considerable international research. We have recently commissioned several reports on retail planning guidelines, you can read these in our Planning Reports area.
RGDATA Planning Policy
RGDATA is the representative association for independent family grocers in Ireland. It represents supermarkets, convenience stores, forecourt stores and local shops. The independent sector represents over one third of the Irish grocery market and members' shops are located in towns, villages and urban areas.
RGDATA supports sustainable retail development, vibrant town centres, villages and communities and a diversity of shops that people can walk to. RGDATA has been to the fore in advocating a planned approach to retail developments in Ireland based on the principles of sustainable development.
RGDATA strongly supports the Retail Shopping Directive introduced in 1998 and has been a firm advocate of the Retail Planning Guidelines first introduced by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government in 2001 and revised again in 2012.
RGDATA supports sustainable planning and development which supports vibrant local communities and facilitates the maintenance of a strong independent grocery sector. It offers a convenient local retail service, shops that people can walk to, the valuable community benefits that arise from locally owned businesses and is in the best interests of sustainability.
Shopping provision is a key component of town centres and makes a valuable contribution to their vitality and viability. RGDATA believes that, in order to enhance the performance and role of town centres, additional investment in new retail development projects should be within town centres. There should also be investment in environmental improvements, transport infrastructure and town centre management.
RGDATA believes that it is very much in the interests of economic recovery and vibrant local communities that the maintenance of a strong independent grocery sector is facilitated. RGDATA members offer a convenient local retail service, shops that people can walk to and the valuable community benefits that arise from locally owned businesses.
