Policy information sourced from the Merton Sites and Policies Plan

DM R2 Development of town centre type uses outside town centres

Link to Merton’s Core Planning Strategy policies: CS 7 Centres; CS 1 Colliers Wood and South Wimbledon sub-area; CS 2 Mitcham sub-area; CS 3 Morden sub-area; CS 4 Raynes Park sub-area and CS 6 Wimbledon sub-area.

Policy aim

To focus town centre type uses into the most sustainable locations whilst facilitating development of new small convenience local shops within walking distance of all residents to meet every day needs.

Policy

To maintain and enhance the vitality and viability of Merton’s town centres, proposals for the development of town centre type uses ‘edge-of-centre’ and ‘out-of-centre’ will be permitted only where it can be demonstrated that:

  • The proposal satisfies the policy approach set out in Core Planning Strategy Policy CS7: Centres, including proposed changes to the type of goods sold or type of activity unless the proposal complies with Policy DM R2 (c). This policy may also apply to new development or extensions that are greater than 280 sqm gross floorspace.
  • The scope of the sequential test and impact assessment submitted is proportionate to the scale of the development proposed and satisfies the council’s requirements.
  • Local convenience development outside town centres meets all of the following criteria:
    • The proposal will be a replacement for an existing convenience shop; or,
    • The proposal will meet local needs in an area identified as deficient in local convenience shopping (including convenience retail activity in petrol stations); and
    • The overall floorspace of the local convenience shop (including petrol stations) would not exceed 280 sqm net retail floorspace.
  • Vitality and viability of Merton’s existing town centres are not harmed. Planning conditions may be imposed on applications, to ensure that proposals do not have an adverse impact on the vitality and viability of existing town centres. Such conditions may:
    • Prevent the amalgamation of small units to create large out-of-centre units;
    • Limit internal development to specify the maximum amount of floorspace permitted; or,
    • Control the type of goods sold or type of activity.

For more information see the Merton Sites and Policies Plan