Policy information sourced from Barking and Dagenham Borough Wide Development Policies DPD

POLICY BE3: RETAIL OUTSIDE OR ON THE EDGE OF TOWN CENTRES

Proposals for New Edge of Town/Out of Town Retail Development

New retail development is expected to be located in the town centres set out in Core Strategy Policy CM5. Edge-of-centre or out-of-centre proposals will be considered against the sequential test set out in national policy. Planning permission will only be granted for such proposals if, in addition to the sequential test, they can demonstrate that they will have no adverse impacts on the vitality and viability of existing centres and show how the proposed development would benefit our existing community, how it fits in with our overall LDF vision, policies and objectives, and what contribution it would make to a sustainable borough.

Existing Local Shops Outside of the Town Centre Hierarchy

The Council will seek to retain existing individual shops that are located outside centres in the town centre hierarchy in Policy CM5), particularly those that sell fresh food. Applications for changes-of-use to non-retail (non-A1) uses will normally be refused, although exceptions may be made where it can be shown that the unit is no longer viable for retail purposes and that it has remained un-let for at least 12 months, despite attempts to let it on reasonable terms. Where this occurs, the Council’s preference will be for premises to be used as a beneficial community facility.