Policy information sourced from the Mole Valley Local Plan

S4: DORKING TOWN CENTRE

The Dorking Town Centre boundary and Conservation Area are set out on the Policies Map. The Council will work with partners including central government, Surrey County Council, other public sector agencies, the voluntary sector, landowners and private developers to:

1. Achieve a healthy and sustainable future for the commercial heart of the town by:

  • Encouraging a diverse mix of town centre uses, where possible;
  • Promoting Dorking as a place to spend leisure time by, for example, developing the hospitalityoffer, protecting and enhancing the community facilities, organising events that attract peopleto the town and supporting independent shops;
  • Managing the environment in a way that ensures the town centre remains attractive,respectful of its heritage and retains its quirkiness;
  • Creating sustainable transport opportunities for those living within or near Dorking andaddressing the needs of those with disabilities;

2. Deliver the Opportunity Dorking programme, which relates specifically to land use comprising:

  • The refurbishment of Pippbrook House for the benefit of the local community, by workingwith a third party to seek to establish a community hub and co-working space, respecting itsGrade II* listed status;
  • The redevelopment of the Foundry Museum and Church Street workshops, providing spacefor start-up businesses and the possible expansion of Dorking museum;
  • The enhancement of areas for the street markets; and,
  • The use of Meadowbank Park and Stadium for community events, working alongside SurreyFootball Association

3. Ensure the character and heritage assets of Dorking Town Centre Conservation Area are conserved and, where possible, enhanced including:

  • The townscape, by ensuring that all new development respects the eclectic nature of thetown centre but complements its immediate surroundings, having regard to the Dorking Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan in terms of design, detailing and materials;
  • The public realm, by ensuring the high quality specification and excellent maintenance of street surfaces and street furniture;
  • The skyline, by ensuring all development does not exceed the typical heights of existing development and the existing views in and out of Dorking and from and to the surrounding countryside are conserved;
  • Built heritage assets, both designated and non-designated, by ensuring that all development has regard to the guidance set out in the Dorking Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan, and that necessary maintenance of heritage assets, including curtilage structures such as boundary walls, is carried out; and,
  • Open spaces, with Cotmandene and Rose Hill attaining the strongest national open space protection possible of Green Belt and Local Green Space respectively.

4. Support the town centre’s business and economy by:

  • Delivering transport measures to improve walking and cycling opportunities to, from andwithin the town centre, that will also reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, reducecarbon emissions and increase road safety within Dorking Town Centre and the wider area;
  • Supporting retail outlets to change to other uses if they have no prospect as a retail unit;
  • Supporting office, leisure, tourist and community facilities to occupy existing buildings withinthe town centre by assisting them to remodel buildings to modern business requirements while not harming the local character and heritage qualities of the buildings or the Conservation Area as a whole; and,
  • Supporting the conversion of buildings or parts of buildings and infilling to create new dwellings provided the conversion and infilling does not result in harm to or loss of a designated heritage asset, unless the public benefits outweigh that harm or loss. The harm to or loss of a non-designated heritage asset will be considered against the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset.

For more information please see the Mole Valley Local Plan