Environmental Enforcement

Sunday Trading

What you need to know (update)

Sunday Trading is controlled by the Sunday Trading Act 1994 as amended by the Regulatory Reform (Sunday Trading) Order 2004. It only controls large shops which have to meet certain legal requirement before they can trade. The controls only apply to a Sunday and all other trading hours are deregulated but it is important that any controls regarding hours as part of planning permission are adhered to by a business as this is a separate issue.

Large shops are those with a retail sales area within a building of more than 280 sq. metres. (This does not include any storage area attached that is not used for trading during the normal week and it is not permissible to reduce the floor area for Sundays only. Any area that is clearly defined at the shop front in front of the payment till is also excluded). These large shops are required display their registered trading hours visible from both within and outside the shop and are limited to .

Large shops are not permitted to trade on Easter Sunday or on Christmas day if it falls on a Sunday.

Small Shops are deregulated and the following are exempted from the controls:

Farm Shops
Motor & Cycle supply Shops
Stands at Exhibitions
Shops at Railway Stations & Airports
Petrol Stations
Chemists selling medicines
Hairdressers
Shoe Repairers
Caterers & Restaurants
Food Takeaways

If you wish to complain about illegal Sunday Trading then please phone 01622 602000.