Policy information sourced from the Lewisham Local Plan

EC14 Major and District Centres

Strategic Objectives:

A An open Lewisham as part of an open London,

C A thriving local economy that tackles inequalities,

F Celebrating our local identity.

A Development proposals within and at the edge of a Major or District centre must demonstrate how they will support the vitality and viability of the town centre and make a positive contribution to its local character, with reference to Policy EC11 (Town centres at the heart of our communities).

Primary Shopping Areas

B Primary Shopping Areas (PSAs) are the locations within Lewisham’s Major and District centres where retail uses are and should be concentrated. Development proposals should support the retail function of the PSA. New Class E(a) retail uses are encouraged to locate in the PSA in order to support and enhance town centre vitality and viability through the provision of a complementary cluster of retail uses.

C Development proposals for Class E and main town centre uses which do not contribute to the retail function of the PSA at the ground floor level must submit a Shopping Area Impact Statement. The statement must demonstrate that the development, whether individually or cumulatively with others, will support the retail function of the PSA and will not result in an unacceptable adverse impact on it by:

  • Contributing to the vitality, viability, vibrancy and character of the PSA, including by ensuring that a range of consumer goods remain available within it, taking into account the role and function of the centre in the hierarchy;
  • Providing an appropriate main town centre use at the ground floor level that will attract visitors and generate footfall within the PSA;
  • Providing a positive frontage along with an active ground floor frontage in order to ensure that there is no excessively harmful break between retail uses and the continuity of the active frontage; and
  • Ensuring local amenity is not unreasonably harmed by increased noise, odour, fumes and other nuisances.

D In Lewisham Major centre, development proposals should support the role and function of the centre by contributing to the target for the PSA to maintain a minimum of 50 per cent of retail uses as a proportion of all units. Development proposals that will result in the percentage of retail units as defined under Class E (a) in the PSA falling below this threshold target will only be supported where the retail function of the PSA will not be adversely impacted, with reference to (C) above.

E Planning conditions may be used to secure Class E(a) uses that contribute to the retail function of the PSA. Where retail development is conditioned for that use, development proposals seeking a change to another appropriate main town centre use, including full flexibility for Class E commercial, business and service uses, must demonstrate that there is no reasonable prospect of the unit being used for continued retail use. This must be evidenced by a robust and recent marketing exercise covering a minimum continuous period of 6-months at a reasonable market value for rent or sale to the local area. Shopping Area Impact Statements must be submitted with applications for changes to a non-retail use where appropriate, with reference to (C) above.

The wider town centre area

F Within a Major or District town centre development proposals for main town centre uses (as defined under Class E (a) – (g) (i)) will be supported. In accordance with national policy, it is anticipated that Class E retail uses will be directed to Primary Shopping Areas, with other Class E main town centre uses locating to appropriate locations beyond. Proposals will be supported where:

  • The use will not result in a harmful overconcentration of similar uses, having regard to Policy EC17 (Concentration of uses); and
  • They provide a positive frontage including an active ground floor frontage or if it can be suitably demonstrated that this is not possible a window display or other appropriate positive frontage at the ground floor.

G Development proposals for residential uses on the ground floor level or below, both within the PSA and the wider town centre area, are inappropriate and will be strongly resisted. This includes proposals for the conversion of units currently in a main town centre or complementary commercial, cultural or community use.

For more information and policy context please see the Lewisham Local Plan