Policy information sourced from the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan

Policy 20 Shops and Services Serving Essential Needs

Essential shops and services

A. The Council will support and protect essential shops and services which meet the day to day needs of communities, in line with Policy 1 ‘Living Locally and the 20-minute neighbourhood (Strategic Policy)’.

B. Applications for planning permission that would result in the loss of essential shops and services as defined, will be permitted only where there is genuine alternative provision within walking distance (defined as 400 metres), unless:

  1. the existing use is inappropriate in terms of access or amenity and living conditions
  2. it has been demonstrated that there is no demand for the use through the submission of satisfactory marketing evidence in accordance with Appendix 2; and/or
  3. the proposed use would provide a social or community service or function which outweighs the loss of the essential shop or service, meeting evidence of a local need.

C. The provision of new shopping and services may be appropriate, including as part of new residential or residential-led development, where the scale of the provision is justified and appropriate to meet a local need, and it can be demonstrated through a sequential test that the proposal would not harm the vitality and viability of the borough’s centre hierarchy.

D. Where planning permission is granted, conditions may be used in order to control the type of goods sold or activity permitted, including by restricting to a specific use.

Public houses, wine bars and drinking establishments*

E. The Council will resist the loss of public houses, wine bars or drinking establishments. Such uses which are of historic or architectural interest and/or community value will be protected from demolition and/or change of use, in accordance with London Plan Policy HC7. Before accepting the loss of any public house, wine bar or drinking establishment the Council requires satisfactory evidence of full and proper marketing normally for at least 2 years for a full range of appropriate uses (see Policy 49 ‘Social and Community Infrastructure (Strategic Policy)’). The applicant will be expected to undertake marketing in line with the requirements set out in Appendix 2.

*Note Section E of this policy applies to public houses, wine bars and drinking establishments

For more information please see the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan