Policy information sourced from the Waltham Forest Local Plan

43 Managing Changes of Use in Non-Designated Areas

Outside the designated centres of Walthamstow Town Centre, the District and Neighbourhood Centres, and designated Local Retail Parades, the Council will support changes of use involving the loss of town centre uses. As a general approach (where planning permission is required), the Council will ensure that:

A. Local residents would still have access to local shops within a reasonable walking distance;

B. The replacement use would be beneficial to the local community and contribute to the Council’s aspirations and priorities, in particular, the regeneration objectives for the local area and the delivery of 15 Minute Neighbourhoods;

C. Along commercial frontages (at ground floor/street level), active uses (those that can operate with display windows and shop fronts and create activity and interest directly related to passing pedestrians) will be maintained;

D. Where ground floor housing conversions may be justified as replacement alternative uses, they relate to frontages or locations where commercial activity has significantly declined and the proposal is part of a scheme involving a group of properties in the street block or parade.