Policy information sourced from the Tower Hamlets Local Plan
S.TC1 Supporting the network and hierarchy of centres
1) Development is required to support the role and function of the borough’s town centre hierarchy and the provision of town centre uses in line with the principles set out below.
| Tier | Location | Functions / roles |
|---|---|---|
| Central Activities Zone | Refer to the Policies Map | a. Apply the London Plan’s approach to development within the Central Activities Zone. |
| Major Centre | Canary Wharf | a. Provide a high proportion of comparison retail compared to convenience along with leisure and civic uses. b. Continue to support its role as a key global employment centre. c. Improve local accessibility to Canary Wharf and its strategic transport interchange, and legibility and way-finding across the area. |
| Tower Hamlets Activity Areas | Refer to the Policies Map | a. Provide areas of transition between the scale, activity and character of the Central Activities Zone and Canary Wharf Major Centre and their surrounding areas. b. Support a mix of uses which make a positive contribution to health and well-being. c. Promote active uses at ground floor level. |
| District Centres | Bethnal Green Road, Brick Lane, Chrisp Street, Crossharbour, Roman Road East, Roman Road West, Watney Market, Whitechapel | a. Promote as vibrant hubs containing a wide range of shops, services and employment. b. Direct a new civic centre for the borough to Whitechapel District Centre. |
| Neighbourhood Centres | Aberfeldy Street, Barkantine Estate, Ben Jonson Road, Burdett Road South, Cambridge Heath, Columbia Road, Devons Road, Limehouse, London City Island, Mile End, Poplar High Streetl, Redchurch Street, Salmon Lane, South Quay, Stroudley Walk, Stepney Green, Thomas More Wapping Lane | a. Provide a range of shops and services to meet the needs of their local catchments. b. Support the specialist functions that exist within Redchurch Street and Columbia Road Neighbourhood Centres to continue providing vibrant shopping and leisure destinations which attract visitors to the borough. c. Ensure development is appropriate to the nature and scale of each individual centre. |
2) New development within the Central Activities Zone, Tower Hamlets Activity Areas and Major, District and Neighbourhood Centres will be expected to support the delivery of new retail and leisure floorspace to meet identified needs.
3) New development must contribute positively to the function, vitality and viability of the Major Centre, District Centres and the Columbia Road and Redchurch Street Neighbourhood Centres. New development within other Neighbourhood Centres and Neighbourhood Parades must ensure sufficient provision of local shops and services to meet the day-to-day needs of local communities. The scale and type of development within the town centres hierarchy should reflect the character, scale and role of each centre through:
- ensuring town centres are accessible, active, well-used and safe during the day and night
- encouraging evening and night time economy uses that contribute to inclusiveness, economic vitality and viability and complement existing activities, where appropriate
- promoting mixed-use and multi-purpose town centres (which include new residential uses where appropriate) with a mix of unit sizes and types to assist in the creation of vibrant centres that offer a diversity of choice, and meet the needs of local communities
- supporting multifunctional, diverse and inclusive leisure and cultural venues and promoting associated uses
- promoting and focusing markets in town centres and recognising their role in adding variety, promoting local enterprise and contributing to local character, and
- supporting temporary and community uses where they help to activate and revitalise vacant town centre units and sites.
For more information please see the Local Plan