scope:

This Standard applies to new retail units built as part of the construction of new or the reconstruction of existing stations.

This standard does not apply to existing retail units or any alterations to them. It also does not apply to the conversion of existing operational infrastructure or space for retail or commercial use outside of a major station development. These items are specifically excluded from the scope of this Standard.

Purpose

The purpose of this Standard is to set out the requirements for the provision of new retail units delivered as part of major development projects either delivering new or reconstructing existing LU stations.

The requirements include the unit's size, its infrastructure and the utilities required for its operation and are based on the customer footfall at the station, defined as the projected combined annual total of customers entering and leaving the station once it is fully operational and customer numbers reach peak levels.

The requirements set out in this Standard are the minimum necessary to enable the retail units to be marketed to high-quality tenants at premium rents, delivering the maximum amenity, ambience and revenue benefits to the station and to LU's customers.

This standard mitigates the risk that substandard and unmarketable retail units will be delivered for LU use. It therefore also mitigates the risk of LU losing revenues from a consequent inability to market these units effectively and the risk of LU having to fund the necessary work to bring substandard units to a marketable standard.