Proposed Submission: Gravesham Local Plan Core Strategy

Policy CS08: Retail, Leisure and the Hierarchy of Centres5.2.25 The Council will seek to reinforce a sustainable network andhierarchy of centres by maintaining the sub-regional role of GravesendTown Centre; protecting and enhancing existing local centres, as shownon the Policies Map, and creating additional local centres to meet localretail needs generated by new development on key sites. In support ofthis the Council will:• a) apply a sequential approach to the location of main town centreuses;• b) require an impact assessment of larger retail and leisuredevelopment;• c) support development of a scale and type appropriate to theposition of the centres in the hierarchy and their character;• d) safeguard the retail character and function of existing and newcentres by resisting development that would adversely affect theirvitality and viability, and protect lone village shops; and• e) encourage the provision of a mix of units includingopportunities for small shops and independent traders in allcentres.Gravesend Town Centre*5.2.26 Gravesend Town Centre will be maintained as the highest ordercentre within the borough and retail, leisure, entertainment facilities andthe more intensive sport and recreation uses will, unless otherwiseallowed for under this policy, be directed as follows:• The Primary Shopping Area as shown on the Policies Map will bethe sequentially preferred location for new retail developmentfollowed by edge-of-centre sites and then out-of-centre sites;• The area within the Town Centre (inclusive of the PrimaryShopping Area) as shown on the Policies Map will be thesequentially preferred location for leisure, entertainment facilities130