Policy information sourced from Barking and Dagenham Barking Town Centre Area Action Plan DPD

POLICY BTC1: ADDITIONAL SHOPPING FLOORSPACE

In order that Barking can better perform its Major Centre role, the Council will encourage the provision of additional shopping within the town centre (as defined on the Inset Proposals Map).

In line with the conclusions of the Barking Town Centre Retail Study Update 2009, the Council considers that up to 9,000 sq. m. (net) of additional shopping floorspace should be provided in the town centre in the period up to 2016.

Within the town centre, schemes which help to maintain a balance between Barking’s local distinctiveness and the larger national multiple retailers currently missing will be particularly encouraged.

In addition, the Council will be prepared to allow the relocation of the existing Tesco store at the junction of London Road and the A406 to a larger store on the Abbey Retail Park. This replacement store on the Abbey Retail Park will only be acceptable as part of housing- led mixed use development (see BTCSSA7), the cessation of retail use on the present site and its use for housing, and subject to the Council being satisfied that it would not adversely impact on the planned town centre retail development proposed by this policy.

All schemes proposing additional retail floorspace will need to demonstrate that they comply with the environmental and transport policies of the Local Development Framework and do not prejudice the achievement of other proposals contained in the Area Action Plan.

The Council will continue to keep the need and capacity for additional retail floorspace in Barking Town Centre under review.