Policy information sourced from Runnymede Local Plan
IE5: Centre Hierarchy, Sequential Approach and Impact Assessment
The town and local centres will be the preferred location for the development of main town centre uses as defined in the NPPF. Proposals must be appropriate in terms of their scale and design to the centre in which they are proposed, as well as the function of the centre and accord with other policies in the plan.
The hierarchy of centres in the Borough is defined as follows:
- Town Centres: Addlestone; Chertsey; Egham
- Local Centres: Englefield Green; Ottershaw; Virginia Water; Woodham and New Haw
The Borough’s centre hierarchy will be maintained over the period of the Local Plan.
Applications for main town centre uses that are not proposed in the town and local centres will only be permitted where the applicant can demonstrate that:
- The proposal accords with (satisfies) the sequential test as set out in the NPPF, and flexibility has been demonstrated on issues such as the format and scale of development.
- For retail proposals greater than 500sq.m and other town centre use proposals greater than 2,500sq.m an impact assessment has been undertaken, which shows that the proposal will not have a significant adverse impact in line with requirements set out in the NPPF. Neighbourhood Plans may set different thresholds where local considerations, supported by evidence, indicate this is appropriate.
The only exception will be where a class B1 use is proposed in a Strategic Employment Area as defined by policy IE2 or when a site has already been allocated for development through this Local Plan.
Edge-of-centre and out-of-centre sites, which satisfy the sequential test, should be accessible including by public transport, bicycle and foot and well-connected to the centre. This sequential approach should not be applied to applications for small scale rural offices or other small-scale rural development.
For more information please see the Local Plan