South Gloucestershire planners have recommended an application for greater control over the size of units at The Willow Brook Centre be granted.

The management of the centre wanted to be able to alter the layout of units without having to apply for planning permission in order to allow them to respond better to the needs of tenants.

But planners have imposed restrictions after Bradley Stoke Town Council objected to the application saying it could lead to “extremes” and a “loss of [planning] control”.

Planners noted the town council comments saying a complete lack of regulation could “potentially allow for extreme cases of subdivision where units become extremely small, and so undermine the vitality of the town centre.”

The planners’ report added: “In contrast, there could also be extremes where units become too large.”

It went on: “On this basis, conditions should be imposed which would allow the Local Planning Authority an element of control. It is suggested that two forms of condition are used. In order to prevent a saturation of very small kiosk type units.

“Such a condition would restrict the maximum number of units of less than 115 square metres to 10.

“This would prevent saturation of small units, yet would allow a reasonable number to be implemented as it is recognised that small units are valuable in town centres.”

A suggested size limit of 500m sq in the mall area and 1,600sq m in the retail units has also been suggested.

A final decision is likely to be made within the next three weeks.