Policy information sourced from The Woking Local Development Document - Core Strategy
CS4: Local and Neighbourhood Centres and shopping parades
Local and neighbourhood centres and shopping parades, as indicated on the Proposals Map, will retain town centre uses wherever viable, in order to meet the day-to-day needs of the local community. Local centres are considered appropriate for a low level of retail growth in order to fulfil their function as local service centres, as set out in the table below. Knaphill is the largest of the local centres and is considered to have the potential to achieve a modest amount of development. The figures are set out separately for Knaphill but combined for the other local centres.
| Development type and indicative amount | When |
|---|---|
| Housing: 2010-2027 = 250 units | Over the life of the Core Strategy |
| Retail (Local Centres): Potential for up to 3,200sq.m of additional A class floorspace including 2,600sq.m of A1 retail made up of 900sq.m of comparison and 1,700sq.m of convenience floorspace | Local Centres: Over the life of the Core Strategy |
| Retail (Knaphill): Potential for up to 3,000sq.m of additional A class floorspace including 2,400 of A1 retail made up of 700sq.m of comparison and 1,700sq.m of convenience floorspace | Knaphill: Over the life of the Core Strategy |
Mixed use development with a small amount of retail will be encouraged in local centres provided it accommodates local needs, contributes to the vitality and viability of the centre and is appropriate to the role and function of the centre in the hierarchy. Floorspace is expected to meet the needs of those living locally and not a wider catchment.
The change of use of A1 retail premises to other town centre uses will only be permitted where:
- the floorspace is vacant
- the unit is not an anchor unit
- the change of use is not considered harmful to the vitality and viability of the centre as a whole
- existing facilities which provide for people’s day-to-day needs are protected.
In neighbourhood centres and shopping parades the Council will seek to protect and retain local shops and other small scale economic uses such as post offices, petrol stations and public houses, because of the importance of these uses for meeting the everyday needs of those living locally. Proposals for development in these centres must relate to the scale, role and function of the centre in the settlement hierarchy and will be determined on individual merit, taking into account the requirements of national planning policy.
No retail growth figures have been set out for the Neighbourhood Centres but they are considered appropriate for a small amount of retail growth in order to fulfil their function of meeting day-to-day needs.
The role and function of the Local and Neighbourhood Centres will be protected by the Council and out of centre development that threatens their vitality and viability will be strongly resisted.
The change of use of office premises will only be permitted where:
- the floorspace is vacant
- the proposed use accords with policies in the Core Strategy
- with the exception of self-contained ground floor premises, detailed evidence is provided to show the premises have been actively marketed without success for at least 12 months.
Where applications are put forward for the redevelopment of office premises to alternative uses, evidence will be required to show that there is a lack of demand for office use in the local centre.
For more information please see the Core Strategy