Policy information sourced from the Tandridge Local Plan Part 2: Detailed Policies

DP3: Local Centres, Other Centres & Villages

Local Centres

A. Within the defined local centres of Warlingham, Lingfield, Caterham Hill, and Whyteleafe, proposals involving the change of use or redevelopment of ground floor premises from use class A1 to A2 , A3, A4 or A5 will be permitted only where:

  1. No less than 50% of the local centre’s total frontage width remains in retail (class A1) use; and
  2. It can be shown that there is no demand for retail (class A1) use through an effective 12 month marketing exercise where the property has been offered for sale or letting on the open market at a realistic price and no reasonable offers have been refused*.

B. Within the Local Centres, non A-class uses will not normally be permitted at ground floor level, although development for community uses and mixed uses with a strong retail element will be permitted provided that they meet criterion A(1) above.

Other Centres & Villages

C. Beyond the District’s defined town and local centres (as shown on the Policies Map), proposals involving the change of use of retail (class A1) shops, whether in a parade of shops or individual neighbourhood or village shops, will be permitted only where:

  1. It can be shown that there is no demand for the premises in retail (class A1) use through an effective 12 month marketing exercise where the property has been offered for sale or letting on the open market at a realistic price and no reasonable offers have been refused*; and
  2. In the case of a shop that currently provides an essential day-to-day ‘top up’ retail (class A1) use (or where such a use existed within the preceding three years), there is another shop of comparable use that is similarly accessible to serve the customers within the same local catchment area.

D. In all cases, the design of the frontage should be compatible with the use of the premises and the surrounding area. Additionally, the proposals must not adversely affect the environment and amenities of the surrounding areas including residential properties, by reason of smell, noise or other environmental problems.

* The Council may seek independent advice to test the veracity of any marketing exercise.

For more information please see the Tandridge Local Plan Part 2: Detailed Policies