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Town Hierarchy Net Comparison
Floorspace
Requirement (m²)
2007-18
Net Convenience
Floorspace
Requirement (m²)
2007-18
Swaffham Mid-size Town Centres – serving local 1,000 – 1,500 0
Watton
need
250 – 500 0
Totals 18,250 – 20,750 5,750 – 7,250
3.24 The above illustrates a convenience floorspace requirement for Thetford of up to 2,500m² (net) to 2018.
This capacity estimate, it should be noted, is based on the 2007 Retail Study and not the more recent
2010 Study.
3.25 In terms of the enhancement and maintenance of the vitality of the town centres, Policy CP7 states that
retail development will be addressed by, inter alia:
“(c) Restricting retail development, except extensions under 200m 2 gross
floorspace, outside the defined centres, unless it can be demonstrated
that there is a need for the development, there are no sequentially
preferable sites and no negative impact on the vitality and viability of the
town centre”
3.26 Again, this essentially comprises the key ‘gateway tests’ of PPS4 and are dealt with in the proceeding
sections of this Statement.
3.27 Policy DC14 of the Core Strategy promotes and supports sustainable building forms and construction. It
requires all new development above 1,000m² to supply at least 10% of the energy they require through
on-site and/or decentralised renewable sources subject to a detailed viability appraisal. As outlined
elsewhere, no occupier has yet been confirmed for the development. The applicant is however
committed to a sustainable development.
3.28 Finally, Policy DC16 states that all new development should aim to achieve the highest standards of
design in accordance with a number of key design criterions. The design philosophy behind the
application proposals is dealt with in the Design and Access Statement, prepared by RPS and Hulme
Upright, which accompanies the application.
iii. Thetford Area Action Plan Proposed Submission DPD (TAAP)
3.29 The TAAP was submitted to the SoS in November 2011. Given the relative infancy of the document
only limited weight should be attached to it. We nonetheless deal with those relevant policies below. As
an overview of the TAAP it is worth noting the following:-
5,000 new homes and 5,000 jobs are to be created within the town;
The majority of Thetford’s housing allocations are to take place to the north of the town by way of a
new urban extension alongside the A11; and
Former Tulip Factory Site, London Road/Caxton Way, Thetford Page 12
Retail & Planning Statement, February 2012