Policy information sourced from the Lewisham Local Plan
EC15 Local 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 Local Centre must demonstrate how they will support the vitality and viability of the centre and make a positive contribution to its local character, with reference to Policy EC11 (Town centres at the heart of our communities).
B Development proposals incorporating small and moderately sized units for retail use are encouraged to locate in Local Centres. Where such provision already exists, this should be protected wherever possible in order to ensure a balanced mix of main town centre uses.
C Major development proposals within a Local Centre must make provision for a reasonable amount of small or moderately sized units suitable for micro, small and independent businesses. Where an end-user has been secured for immediate occupation on the development’s completion and requires a larger unit or floor plate, this should be flexibly designed to enable sub-division into smaller units in the future.
D Development proposals involving the change of use from Class E to other main town centre uses within Local Centres will only be supported where it is demonstrated that:
- The replacement use is an appropriate main town centre, community, cultural or employment generating use; and
- An active frontage is provided at the ground floor level or if it can be suitably demonstrated that this is not possible a window display or other positive frontage.
E Development proposals for the change of a main town centre use to a residential use at the ground floor level or below will only be permitted where:
- It is demonstrated through a robust and recent marketing exercise of a minimum continuous period of two-years at a reasonable local market value for rent or sale, that the unit has been vacant during this time and there is no reasonable prospect of retaining it in an appropriate main town centre, community or employment generating use; and
- There will be no adverse impact on local area character and the continuity of the shopping frontage in the Local Centre.
F Planning conditions may be used to secure Class E(a) uses that contribute to the retail function of the Local Centre. 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.
For more information and policy context please see the Lewisham Local Plan