The aspiration to protect non-residential uses under draft Policy 13 (Supporting a Vibrant and Balanced Economy) in the interest of supporting and maintaining a vibrant and balanced economy is supported. However, the policy wording is particularly onerous for proposals seeking to redevelop non-allocated, nonresidential sites where alternative uses would be a more appropriate. This approach conflicts with the NPPF (para. 121) which states that local planning authorities should "take a positive a

Penultimate para, second bullet, add: 'in relation to its context to ensure an appropriately sensitive proposal toward neighbouring uses and buildings.' Para 6.16 We are sceptical about these figures given the current trends in high street retailing. But irrespective of whether they prove a sound basis for planning future provision, the addition of more retail floorspace alone would not seem to be the answer to maintaining the vitality of the town centre. The local plan needs to address this i

- We believe that there needs to be a strategy for Sevenoaks Town Centre to address how in the face of declining high street retail sales the town centre will retain its vitality.

Economic Land and Development Tonbridge and Malling believe that it is currently unclear why Policy 13 includes the serving of Article 4 directions on all office accommodation on allocated sites, presumably to ensure the supply of economic land over the plan period when para. 6.10 states that "the draft Local Plan has identified a greater level of employment land than is needed" which suggests that the supply is not constrained. Clarification on the justification for this approach would be welc

Employment There is total need for 11.6ha additional employment land over the plan period. MBC supports Policy 13 – Supporting a Vibrant and Balanced Economy which demonstrates the Council can meet its employment need. MBC notes that considerable office space has been lost to residential conversion as a result of permitted development rights. The Local Plan states that Article 4 directions will be served on all office accommodation on allocated sites to remove permitted development rights in reg

We write on behalf of our client, U+I Group Plc ("U+I"), in response to the consultation on Sevenoaks District Council's ("SDC") Draft Local Plan (July 2018). U+I has a long term interest in Sevenoaks, having acquired the Swanley Square Shopping Centre in 2004 (the Site). In line with SDC's early masterplan vision for Swanley, U+I has sought to regenerate the centre and adjoining land, introduce with a view to improve the experience of the second largest town centre in the District and deliver

THE SITE AND BACKGROUND Media House is an L-shaped three-storey office building. It was built in the 1960s as an office, and it is still used as an office for the building contractor United Living. The prevailing land use of the immediate and wider area is residential. This includes Horizon House (east of the site), which is an eight-storey former office building which has been converted to a residential use. Non-residential uses in the area comprise a small parade of shops directly to the eas

Summary 4.1.1 PJA has been commissioned by Dandara Ltd to advise on the suitability of site access arrangements at the proposed development on land south of West End in Kemsing, Kent. For the purpose of this assessment it has been assumed that the development would accommodate up to 150 residential dwellings. 4.2 Conclusion 4.2.1 The note has identified potential access locations into the site could take the form of either a mini-roundabout or priority junctions with West End. Alternatively, a s

Page 74 Provision and Delivery of County Council Community Services - KCC recognises that given throughout the draft Local Plan of the number of jobs that are expected as a result of the proposed sites identified in Policy 13. However, a number of the sites identified already have existing employment use, so the overall nett gain in employment land is important if the Local Plan is to achieve its target of an additional 11.6ha of employment land. This would also need to take into account a numb

We consider the policy is unclear. From the draft wording we are unsure whether it is to be read that any existing commercial building must be considered for alternative commercial/employment use before being allowed to change use to housing. Or is it intended to be wider reaching i.e. it must be shown that an agricultural barn must be considered for commercial before being allowed to be converted to residential? Clarity is need. In the event of the later, the Council's windfall allowance must b