Policy information sourced from the Gravesham Local Plan - Core Strategy

CS08: Retail, Leisure and the Hierarchy of Centres

5.2.24 The Council will seek to reinforce a sustainable network and hierarchy of centres by maintaining the sub-regional role of Gravesend Town Centre; protecting and enhancing existing local centres, as shown on the Policies Map, and creating additional local centres to meet local retail needs generated by new development on Key Sites. In support of this the Council will:

  • apply a sequential approach to the location of main town centre uses;
  • require an impact assessment of larger retail and leisure development;
  • support development of a scale and type appropriate to the position of the centres in the hierarchy and their character;
  • safeguard the retail character and function of existing and new centres by resisting development that would adversely affect their vitality and viability, and protect lone village shops; and
  • encourage the provision of a mix of units including opportunities for small shops and independent traders in all centres.

Gravesend Town Centre*

5.2.25 Gravesend Town Centre will be maintained as the highest order centre within the Borough and retail, leisure, entertainment facilities and the more intensive sport and recreation uses will, unless otherwise allowed for under this policy, be directed as follows:

  • The Primary Shopping Area as shown on the Policies Map will be the sequentially preferred location for new retail development followed by edge of centre sites and then out of centre sites;
  • The area within the Town Centre (inclusive of the Primary Shopping Area) as shown on the Policies Map will be the sequentially preferred location for leisure, entertainment facilities and the more intensive sport and recreation uses, followed by edge of centre sites and then out of centre sites.

5.2.26 Proposals for around 10,500 sq m gross of primarily comparison retail floorspace (use class A1) outside the Primary Shopping Area will be supported at the Heritage Quarter Key Site where it can be demonstrated that the need cannot be met in the existing Primary Shopping Area.

5.2.27 Where a case has been made for large format retail/commercial leisure development and no suitable sites can be identified following the application of the sequential approach set out above, the Council will support development in the West of Town Centre sub-area (3.2) as its preferred out of centre location for such development.

New and Expansion of Existing Local Centres

5.2.28 Proposals for new local centres and the expansion of existing centres listed will be supported where they are of a scale and form designed to meet local needs arising from associated planned new development:

  • Springhead Quarter Key Site, Ebbsfleet
  • Northfleet Rise Quarter Key Site, Ebbsfleet
  • Old Northfleet Residential Extension Key Site (as an extension to The Hive Local Centre)
  • Northfleet Embankment East Regeneration Area Key Site
  • Canal Basin Regeneration Area Key Site

Impact Testing

5.2.29 Retail proposals outside the Primary Shopping Area, exceeding 2,500 sq m floorspace, will be subject to an impact assessment in accordance with national policy.

5.2.30 Proposals for leisure, entertainment facilities and the more intensive sport and recreation uses outside the Town Centre, exceeding 2,500 sq m floorspace, will be subject to an impact assessment in accordance with national policy.

* The Gravesend Town Centre Plan (Figure 18) defines the Primary Shopping Area and the Town Centre boundary on the basis of the current uses and commercial activity. In applying this policy, the following definitions will apply:

Edge of Centre: For retail purposes, a location that is well connected and up to 300 metres walking distance of the Primary Shopping Area and, for leisure, entertainment facilities and the more intensive sport and recreation uses, a location within 300 metres walking distance of the Town Centre boundary.

Out of Centre: A location which is not in or on the edge of a centre but not outside the urban area.

For more information please see the Gravesham Core Strategy