Policy information sourced from Mole Valley Local Plan

S4 - EDGE OR OUT-OF-CENTRE SHOPPING IN LEATHERHEAD

Proposals for major retail development, including large new foodstores and/or retail warehousing, on the edge of or outside Leatherhead town centre will only be permitted if all the following criteria are met:

  • there is a need for the development;
  • there are no suitable sites available or likely to become available within a reasonable period of time within or, in the case of out-of-centre proposals, on the edge of the town centre;
  • the proposal, either individually or cumulatively with other existing retail developments, or those with outstanding planning permission in the catchment area, would not harm the vitality and/or viability of the town centre;
  • the proposal is of acceptable scale, materials and a high quality of design and would not harm the urban or rural environment or residential amenity;
  • the proposal is sited so as to reduce the number and length of car journeys and to be accessible to those using public transport;
  • the traffic generated by the proposal can be accommodated safely on the local highway network, with sufficient car parking and servicing provided on site, and in the case of out-of-centre proposals, is easily accessible to the Distributor Road Network;
  • in the case of edge-of-centre proposals, be easily accessible to and from the primary shopping area for those travelling on foot;
  • the proposal will not cause harm to the Development Plan strategy nor be located on land used or allocated for other purposes and/or required to meet other Plan objectives, unless at the time of the proposal the need for it outweighs the harm caused by the loss of such land.

For more information please see the Local Plan