Proposed Submission: Gravesham Local Plan Core Strategy

4.6.10 The Sub-Areas which comprise the Gravesend Town CentreOpportunity Area are shown in Figure 12 above.Town Centre (sub-area 3.1)4.6.11 The Town Centre sub-area comprises the main commercial part of thetown centre. It is relatively compact and has the main concentration of retail,leisure, cultural, tourist, civic and service facilities in the Borough. Thisincludes shops, banks, restaurants, bars, the Towncentric visitor andinformation centre, Gravesham Community Hospital, The Woodville, and theCouncil's offices. These serve the whole Borough. It also acts as a transporthub for both conventional and high speed train services as well as buses (seeTransport section).4.6.12 The town's main shopping area is centred around the St George'sCentre, Thamesgate Centre and the pedestrianised part of New Road. Theunits are mainly occupied by multiple retailers selling comparison goods (e.g.clothing, games and toys, books and stationery, jewellery). Conveniencegoods are available from Tesco, Farmfoods and a number of retailers whichsell both convenience and comparison goods, such as Marks and Spencer.There are a number of areas close to the main shopping area which consist ofmore independent shops, estate agents, banks, building societies, restaurantsand pubs. These include: High Street; the indoor Borough Market; QueenStreet; King Street; Windmill Street; Stone Street; Manor Road; ParrockStreet; New Road (West); The Overcliffe; Darnley Road; and Barrack Row.4.6.13 This sub-area wholly contains the defined Primary Shopping Area onthe Policies Map (see Policy CS08 Retail, Leisure and the Hierarchy ofCentres). The retail function of the area will be supported and enhanced.There is an identified need for more and better quality comparison goodsretail floorspace in the Borough. Larger sized modern units are required tomeet the needs of multiple retailers. There is also a need for better qualityconvenience goods retail floorspace in the Borough to improve competitionand consumer choice 16 . In accordance with the sequential approach set out in16 Retail and Commercial Leisure Study December 200988