Proposed Submission: Gravesham Local Plan Core Strategy

Sequential Test and Impact Assessment5.2.15 The Council requires main town centre uses to be located in theBorough's town and local centres in a form and scale appropriate to theposition of the centres in the hierarchy and their character.5.2.16 Within Gravesend Town Centre, the Council has defined a PrimaryShopping Area (PSA) as shown on Figure 17, on the basis of where retaildevelopment is currently concentrated. The Primary Shopping Area asdefined is the area where retail development is concentrated (generallycomprising the primary and those secondary frontages which are adjoiningand closely related to the primary shopping frontage). The primary andsecondary frontages will be defined in the Site Allocations and DevelopmentManagement Policies DPD.5.2.17 In order to strengthen the vitality and viability of the Town Centre andmaintain its role in the sub-region, the Council will direct new retaildevelopment to the Primary Shopping Area, as its' sequentially preferredlocation for such uses, and then sites on the edge of the Primary ShoppingArea. If suitable sites are unavailable in these locations or the Borough's othercentres, out of centre locations will be considered.5.2.18 Where a case is made for retail in the 'warehouse' format and nosequentially preferable site is available, the Council's preferred option is thatsuch development should be directed to the Imperial Retail Park or sitesimmediately adjoining where linked trips to the town centre can be facilitated.5.2.19 Proposals for any of the main Town Centre uses on sites which lieoutside the Town Centre, as shown on Figure 17, and are not identifiedelsewhere in this Core Strategy, which exceed 2,500 sq.m floorspace, will besubject to such an impact assessment in line with national policy.Indicative distribution of new retail development5.2.20 Whilst the Primary Shopping Area is the Council's sequentiallypreferable location for new retail development, it is recognised that there areinsufficient sites available within the Primary Shopping Area to accommodate126