Policy information sourced from Harpenden Neighbourhood Plan
ER5 – Supporting Harpenden Town Centre Economy
In Harpenden Town Centre, as identified at Figure 5.2, proposals will be supported that:
- Provide an appropriate mix and balance of retail units, as follows:
- In the Primary Shopping Areas, as identified at Figure 5.2, at least 60% of shopfronts (by length) should remain in Use Class A1 and 90% (by length) of shopfronts should remain in A-Class uses.
- In the Secondary Shopping Areas, as identified at Figure 5.2, at least 50% of shopfronts (by length) should remain in Use Class A1 and 90% (by length) of shopfronts should remain in A-Class use.
- Proposals that would place the overall percentage of units below these figures will not be supported unless in exceptional circumstances where the community benefit of doing so outweighs the loss of an important retail unit
- Provide important social infrastructure including community facilities, particularly where there is no negative impact to retail uses.
- Provide ground floor active frontages. It will not be acceptable to have new ground floor residential uses on Primary or Secondary frontages in Harpenden Town Centre.
- Support the regeneration of Arden Grove, Station Approach and Harding Parade, developing an attractive gateway into Harpenden.
- Promote the enhancement of the public realm in Harding Parade, Thompsons Close and North High Street.
- Retain employment floorspace. Proposals that would result in the loss of employment floorspace in the town centre will only be supported in exceptional circumstances where the community benefit of doing so outweighs the loss of an employment site.
For more information please see the Neighbourhood Plan