Policy SD7 — Town centres: development principles and Development Plan Documents

Policy SD7 Town centres: development principles and Development Plan Documents A When considering development proposals, boroughs should take a town centres first approach, discouraging out-of-centre development of main town centre uses in accordance with Parts A1 - A3, with limited exceptions for existing viable office locations in outer London (see Policy E1 Offices ). Boroughs should: 1) apply the sequential test to applications for main town centre uses, requiring them to be located in town centres. If no suitable town centre sites are available or expected to become available within a reasonable period, consideration should be given to sites on the edge-of-centres that are, or can be, well integrated with the existing centre, local walking and cycle networks, and public transport. Out-of-centre sites should only be considered if it is demonstrated that no suitable sites are (or are expected to become) available within town centre or edge of centre locations. Applications that fail the sequential test should be refused 2) require an impact assessment on proposals for new, or extensions to existing, edge or out-of-centre development for retail, leisure and office uses that are not in accordance with the Development Plan. Applications that are likely to have a significant adverse impact should be refused 3) realise the full potential of existing out-of-centre retail and leisure parks to deliver housing intensification through redevelopment and ensure such locations become more sustainable in transport terms, by securing improvements to public transport, cycling and walking. This should not result in a net increase in retail or leisure floorspace in an out-of-centre location unless the proposal is in accordance with the Development Plan or can be justified through the sequential test and impact assessment requirements in Parts A(1) and A(2) above. B Boroughs should support the town centres first approach in their Development Plans by: 1) assessing the need for main town centre uses, taking into account capacity and forecast future need 2) allocating sites to accommodate identified need within town centres, considering site suitability, availability and viability, with limited exceptions for existing viable office locations in outer London (see Policy E1 Offices ). If suitable and viable town centre sites are not available, boroughs should allocate appropriate edge-of-centre sites that are, or can be, well integrated with the existing centre, local walking and cycle networks, and public transport 3) reviewing town centre boundaries where necessary 4) setting out policies, boundaries and site allocations for future potential town centres to accommodate identified deficiencies in capacity (having regard to Policy SD8 Town centre network and the future potential town centre classifications in Annex 1 ). C In Development Plans, boroughs should: 1) define the detailed boundary of town centres in policy maps including the overall extent of the town centre (taking into consideration associated high streets which have particular economic or social value) along with specific policy-related designations such as primary shopping areas, primary and secondary frontages and night-time economy in light of demand/capacity assessments for town centre uses and housing 2) consider the protection of out-of-centre high streets as local parades or business areas and develop appropriate policies to support and enhance the role of these high streets, subject to local evidence, recognising the capacity of low-density commercial sites, car parks and retail parks for housing intensification and mixed-use redevelopment (see Policy H1 Increasing housing supply ) 3) develop policies through strategic and local partnership approaches ( Policy SD9 Town centres: Local partnerships and implementation ) to meet the objectives for town centres set out in Policy SD6 Town centres and high streets to support the development, intensification and enhancement of each centre, having regard to the current and potential future role of the centre in the network ( Policy SD8 Town centre network 4) develop policies for edge-of-centre areas, revising the extent of shopping frontages where surplus to forecast demand and introducing greater flexibility, permitting a range of non-residential uses taking into account local circumstances 5) identify centres that have particular scope to accommodate new commercial development and higher density housing, having regard to the growth potential indicators for individual centres in Annex 1 . Criteria to consider in assessing the potential for intensification in town centres include: a) assessments of demand for retail, office and other commercial uses b) assessments of capacity for additional housing c) public transport accessibility and capacity d) planned or potential transport improvements – to indicate future capacity for intensification e) capacity and proximity of social infrastructure f) existing and potential level of density of development and activity g) relationship with wider regeneration initiatives h) vacant land and floorspace – as a further measure of demand and also of under-utilisation of the existing centre i) potential to complement local character, existing heritage assets and improve the quality of the town centre environment j) viability of development. 6) identify sites suitable for higher density mixed-use residential intensification capitalising on the availability of services within walking and cycling distance and current and future public transport provision including, for example: a) comprehensive redevelopment of low-density supermarket sites, surface car parks, and edge-of-centre retail/leisure parks b) redevelopment of town centre shopping frontages that are surplus to demand c) redevelopment of other low-density town centre buildings that are not of heritage value, particularly where there is under-used space on upper floors, whilst re-providing non-residential uLondon Plan Policy SD7 · official source →