Planners have imposed a limit on how much outdoor clothing and footwear can be sold at Wyevale Garden Centres’ Heighley Gate site in Northumberland.

The centre had previously been allowed to sell none-core items on up to 5,000 sq.m. of the site, but the limits for each category had never been set – a situation some councillors believed was difficult to enforce.

Now, following concerns expressed by local retailers about the impact on trade in Morpeth Town Centre, Northumberland County Council’s north area planning committee have said clothing and footwear must be restricted to 2,000 sq.m. Only 1300 sq.m. is currently used.

In a close vote, the planner said the new proposals gave the council some control over the amount and type of clothing sold.

The centre hosts concessions for Cotton Traders, Edinburgh Woollen Mills and Pavers Shoes.