Policy information sourced from the Dartford Core Strategy

CS 12: Network of Shopping Centres

A network of complementary shopping centres will be developed and supported, comprising:

  • Dartford Town Centre (see also Policy CS 2)
  • Bluewater (see also Policy CS 4)
  • Ebbsfleet/Eastern Quarry (see also Policies CS 4 and 5, and Diagram 6)
  • Longfield

These will act as the main foci for shopping and leisure activity and be based on the roles for each centre identified in Table 3 below.

The Council will work with developers and grant planning consent for development that supports these respective roles. Table 4 will act as a guide to the appropriate amount of retail floorspace at each of the centres, also taking into account the factors identified below.

Dartford Town Centre

Assessment of planning applications within the town centre boundary will take into account:

  • the urgent need for regeneration and the potential for the proposal to contribute to the overall aims of Policy CS 2;
  • the ability of the scheme to attract more shoppers from the immediate catchment, thereby supporting sustainable travel patterns;
  • where proposals exceed the guidance levels, in addition to 1 and 2 above, the likely impact of the scheme on neighbouring town centres.

Bluewater

The assessment of proposals will take into account:

  • the ability of the scheme to attract more shoppers from the immediate catchment, thereby supporting sustainable travel patterns;
  • the ability of a scheme to maintain and support Bluewater’s role as a specialist regional comparison shopping centre and provide an offer which is distinct from that of nearby town centres;
  • the potential of a scheme to provide impetus for early delivery in the Ebbsfleet Valley and to support the success of Ebbsfleet;
  • proposals exceeding the guidance levels will be subject to a retail assessment carried out in consultation with neighbouring authorities and taking into account the likely impact of the scheme on neighbouring town centres and regional considerations.

Proposals will also need to ensure that:

  • impact on the highway network is minimised through a range of measures, including improved access by public transport, walking and cycling;
  • the design integrity of the centre is maintained;
  • the parkland setting is maintained and enhanced as a recreational and biodiversity resource and as flood risk mitigation;
  • employment and training strategies target local people.

An early review of retail policies in this Plan will be undertaken, in order to assess changing patterns of retail behaviour as a result of the new population; the impact on market shares arising from development in Dartford centres, as well as development outside Dartford; and to assess the effectiveness of the policies in ensuring an appropriate balance between the Dartford shopping centres.

The Development Management DPD will contain policies on the management of these centres as well as the identification and management of local centres.

For more information please see the Core Strategy