Policy information sourced from the Lewisham Local Plan

EC16 Shopping parades, corner shops and other service points

Strategic Objectives:

C A thriving local economy that tackles inequalities.

A Retail uses located at shopping parades, corner shops and other service points (i.e. outside of Major, District and Local Centres) provide important day-to-day provision of consumer goods within Lewisham’s neighbourhoods and should be protected wherever possible.

B Development proposals involving the change of use from Class E to other main town centre or appropriate employment generating uses at shopping parades, corner shops and other service points will only be supported where it is demonstrated that:

  • Similar alternative provision is available within the local area which can be reached safely, easily and conveniently by walking, normally within 400-800 metres; and
  • An active frontage is provided at the ground floor level, or if it can be suitably demonstrated this is not possible a window display or other positive frontage.

C At shopping parades, corner shops and other service points 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 one-year 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 the unit 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 frontages within the shopping parade or other frontages.

D Where a development proposal involving a main town centre use is located outside of a Major, District or Local Centre and satisfies the Sequential Test, the Council may use planning conditions to secure an element of Class E(g) retail uses. This in order to ensure provision of essential daily consumer goods in the area where there is an identified need.

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