Policy information sourced from the Mole Valley Local Plan

EC4: THE RURAL ECONOMY

1. To maintain a successful, sustainable and diverse rural economy, outside the Built-Up Area as shown on the Policies Map, the Council will:

  • Support the diversification of rural businesses by encouraging the re-use and adaptation of rural buildings for appropriate alternative employment uses, where this complies with other policies of the Plan;
  • Support the limited extension or redevelopment of existing employment premises, where this is consistent with other policies of the Plan;
  • Resist the loss of village shops and employment floorspace in the rural areas; and,
  • Support proposals that enhance digital connectivity in rural areas, including the delivery of superfast broadband to all rural communities and businesses, subject to compliance with Policy INF5.

2. Applications resulting in the loss of a commercial, business or service use (Class E or similar Sui Generis use) or an employment use (Class B2, B8 or similar Sui Generis use) or a small shop (Class F2a) will only be supported where it can be demonstrated that:

  • There is no reasonable prospect of the site remaining in its current use;
  • Opportunities to reconfigure or reuse the site to retain its current use or a use named above have been exhausted;
  • The site has been actively but unsuccessfully marketed for 12-month period at a reasonable market value with a recognised agent; and;
  • The proposed alternative use would not harm the vitality or viability of a small business cluster.

For more information please see the Mole Valley Local Plan