Retail warehouse
Retail warehouses are large, single-level stores, typically with a minimum of 1000 square metres gross retail floorspace, 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.
Retail warehouses may be stand-alone buildings, or may be located on trading estates or parks. Generally, an agglomeration of at least three retail warehouses constitutes a retail warehouse park. They generally offer a significant amount of car parking, which may be shared with other retail warehouses.
The Valuation Office Agency suggests that the construction of retail warehouses shows greater visual similarity to warehousing than to standard shops. They usually occupy a single floor, the majority of which is devoted to sales, with some ancillary storage and office use.
Typically, they are
- Older buildings converted from a previous warehouse or industrial use.
- 1980s or 1990's modern estates or parks.
- Mid 1990s and 2000's larger, modern purpose-built units.
- From late 2000's, modern retail parks with a high street.
For planning permission purposes, retail warehouses come under use class A1 (shops) unlike other types of warehouse which are typically use class B8 (storage or distribution).
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Asset management for environmental conditions - retrofitting strategies for simple buildings.
- BREEAM and retail.
- BREEAM Retail prize 2016.
- High street (planning and policy).
- Main town centre uses.
- Rental method of rating valuation.
- Sample retail unit lease.
- The impact of lighting in retail design.
- Types of building.
- Use class.
- Warehouse.
- What the new retail market will mean for the water sector.
Featured articles and news
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.