Policy information sourced from the Waltham Forest Local Plan

39 New Retail, Office and Leisure Developments

The designated centres as listed under Policy 38 ‘Hierarchy of Centres’ will be the preferred locations for new retail, office, workspace, leisure and cultural/tourism, entertainment, hotel, community and other service uses. Development proposals will be supported where the scale of development is appropriate to the role and function of the particular designated centre or parade and its catchment. Proposals for such development on sites outside designated centres will only be supported where it can be demonstrated that:

A. All in-centre options (in Walthamstow Town Centre, the District and Neighbourhood Centres) have been thoroughly assessed for their availability and suitability in accommodating new development;

B. Where it has been demonstrated that there are no available or suitable in-centre sites, preference has been given to edge-of-centre locations which are well connected to the designated centre by means of easy pedestrian access;

C. Appropriate flexibility has been applied with regard to scale and format of proposed operations;

D. A Retail Impact Assessment has been undertaken for proposals over 2500sqm, and this shows that there would be no adverse impact on the vitality and viability of nearby designated centres and parades as well as no adverse impact on town centre investment. In exceptional circumstances, where it is deemed unnecessary to undertake a full-scale Retail Impact Assessment, a broader statement of impact will be required;

E. The scale of provision is justified (as above) and is required to support new residential communities in an area deficient in shopping provision - i.e. there are no shops or community services within a 10-minute walk (approximately 800m).