Policy information sourced from Windsor and Maidenhead Local Plan

TR 4 District Centres

Ascot and Sunningdale are district centres, defined on the Policies Map, whose main functions are to provide a range of shops and services to the surrounding areas. A broad mix of uses will be maintained within the centres to support their current functions and to help them meet their full potential.

Development proposals for retail use within district centres will be supported, particularly within the primary shopping areas as defined on the Policies Map.

Non-retail uses and services will also be supported provided the overall function of the centre and opportunities for customer choice are maintained.

The scale of development that will be appropriate in district centres will be smaller than that in town centres, and will be determined by reference to the scale and function of the centre in question. Development proposals should not be of such a scale that they would elevate the centre to a higher level in the retail hierarchy.

Development proposals for residential use on upper floors in district and local centres will be supported. Where there is a considerable proportion of vacant property in a centre, residential or other uses at ground floor level will also be considered by the Borough where they do not negatively impact the character, and provided that they would not adversely affect the function of the centre within the retail hierarchy.

Special considerations will apply in situations of sustained high levels of vacancy, for example where more than 30% of the units in a centre have been vacant for more than a year. Where there is a sustained high level of vacancy, the Council will consider active town centre uses as a first resort with residential or other uses at ground floor level as a last resort.

A diverse range of appropriate uses including retailing will be appropriate and there is limited scope for new retail floorspace in either district centre. The Neighbourhood Plan for the area, Ascot, Sunninghill and Sunningdale Neighbourhood Plan 2011-2026, supports the provision of small retail units on sites in both centres.

For more information please see the Local Plan