Policy information sourced from Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan

TLC4 - Neighbourhood and Village Centres

Within neighbourhood and village centres, as defined in Appendix 8, a range of shops (including Use Class A1) and services (including Use Classes A2, A3, A4 and A5) will be maintained.

Changes of use between shopping and service uses within neighbourhood and village centres will be permitted where this would not lead to the loss of A1 units serving the day to day needs of the community or required to ensure that the centre is capable of meeting the day to day needs of the community during the plan period. Proposals resulting in a net loss of shopping or service uses will not be permitted unless evidence is provided to the Council to show that the operation of the facility is no longer financially viable and where there are no other realistic proposals for retail or service uses on the site, including through Community Right to Buy.

Appropriately located additional retail or service units in neighbourhood and village centres will be permitted where the proposal is of a scale appropriate to the centre and would not materially undermine the existing balance of uses.

Residential, business or community uses of the upper floors of units within neighbourhood and village centres will be encouraged where there will be no adverse impact on the functioning of the ground floor retail or community use.

For more information please see the Allocations and Development Management Plan