Policy information sourced from the Westminster City Plan
14. Town centres, high streets and the CAZ
A: The intensification of town centres, high streets and the CAZ to provide additional floorspace for main town centre uses is supported in principle, subject to impact on townscape and heritage. Proposals in existing town centres and high streets will enhance and diversify their offer as places to shop, work and spend leisure time.
B: Uses that provide active frontages and serve visiting members of the public will be required at the ground floor throughout the town centre hierarchy. Uses serving visiting members of the public will also be supported at first floor level within centres characterised by large format, multi-level stores. The use of upper floors for residential use is supported in principle across all parts of the town centre hierarchy except the International Centres.
C: All development within the town centre hierarchy will be of a scale, type and format that reflects and enhances the role and function of the centre within which it is proposed.
- The International Centres of the West End and Knightsbridge will provide a focal point for large format comparison retail, supported by complementary town centre uses that increase customer dwell time, and new office floorspace;
- The WERLSPA will provide a wide mix of commercial uses that support the West End’s role as a retail, employment and cultural hub, and as a centre for the visitor, evening and night-time economy;
- CAZ Retail Clusters will provide further large format retail and complementary town centre uses to meet the needs of residents, workers, and visitors;
- Major, District and Local Centres will provide a mix of commercial and community uses to meet residents’ day to day shopping needs, provide local employment opportunities, and support opportunities for community interaction.
D: The provision of a range of retail unit sizes including small stores in redevelopment proposals are supported in principle.
E: Temporary proposals for ‘meanwhile use’ of empty spaces within the town centre hierarchy will be supported where it can be demonstrated that they will enhance town centre vitality and viability, and will be appropriately managed.
F: New and extended markets will be supported throughout the town centre hierarchy and wider CAZ where any negative impacts on the surrounding area (including the operational requirements of existing businesses in the vicinity) can be mitigated.
G: Town centre uses will also be supported in principle throughout the parts of the CAZ with a commercial or mixed-use character, having regard to the existing mix of land uses and neighbourhood plan policies. In the parts of the CAZ that are commercial or mixed-use in character, the loss of town centre uses from the ground floor will be resisted.
H: Only sites that fall outside of the CAZ and the town centre hierarchy will be required to pass the sequential test set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Retail impact assessments will only be required for proposals of more than 2,500 sq m of (gross) new retail floorspace outside the town centre hierarchy, including proposals for Class E (commercial, business and service) uses that would enable at least 2,500 sq m of (gross) floorspace to be occupied by retail use.
I: Within largely residential areas not well served by the town centre hierarchy, conversion of existing shops to residential use will be resisted. Alternative uses that maintain an active frontage, provide opportunities for employment, or serve local community needs, will be supported where any negative impacts on residential amenity are fully mitigated.
For more information please see the City Plan