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8. TOWN CENTRES
 
GENERAL POLICY AND POLICY CONTEXT
   
8.1

The Plan promotes the regeneration and revitalisation of the Borough's network of Town (Major, District and Local Centres) and Neighbourhood Parades. By virtue of their accessibility and existing diversity of use, they are considered the most appropriate locations for a range of activities that attract and serve Borough residents, including retailing; leisure and entertainment; residential, arts, cultural and community facilities; commercial and public services. The general policies for Town Centres and retailing are:

 
STC1

To safeguard and improve the vitality, commercial viability and sustainability of the Borough’s Town Centres as retail, leisure, employment, service and residential centres for residents, visitors and the business community.

 
STC2 To support the Borough’s Town Centre hierarchy of Major, District and Local Centres, and its network of Neighbourhood Parades, as set out below and in Tables TC1, TC2 and TC3:
  i. Woolwich and Eltham are designated Major Centres, and the Borough’s largest and second shopping and office employment centres respectively. They are preferred locations for larger scale development in retail, leisure and other town centre uses.
  ii. Six District Centres offer a significant range of both comparison shopping and a supermarket or range of food shops. They are appropriate locations for a variety of town centre uses scaled to serve the population of their sub-region without harming the vitality and viability of Woolwich or Eltham. Greenwich is the borough’s largest District Centre, and in addition a major visitor destination and an inscribed World Heritage Site. Proposals that serve this wider market must respect both its heritage and its service role to local residents.
  iii. Seven Local Centres offer a moderate range of shopping and service activities, usually including a small supermarket, and are suitable locations for appropriately scaled town centre uses to serve their local catchment. A new Local Centre will be developed by Kidbrooke Station, as part of the Kidbrooke Development Area.
  iv. 32 Neighbourhood Parades complement the formal retail heirarchy and typically have less than 20 shops offering basic convenience goods and services within walking distance. Retail developments will be subject to need and sequential testing. Provision of a minimum range of retailing and services will be safeguarded.
 
STC3 To safeguard and enhance safety, access, comfort, security, amenity, and the environment within the Borough’s town centres for residents, workers and visitors.
 
STC4 To promote a high standard of design in town centre buildings and public and civic spaces, and to preserve and enhance historic buildings, and other important heritage features.
 
STC5 To improve town centre accessibility by a choice of means of transport, and to reduce congestion and pollution in town centres by promoting public transport, walking, cycling, and linked trips.
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Table TC1: Town Centre Hierarchy and total retail (A1/2/3) floorspace.

Location

Total floorspace
(m2 gross)

Durable / comparison

Convenience

Service / Other

Vacant

Planning
Permission

Major Centres 1 (50-100,000 m2 floorspace)

Woolwich 2

71,350

35,250

8,600

15,750

11,750

14,000

Eltham

53,450

37,050

5,950

8,600

1,850

0

District Centres 1 (10-30,000 m2 floorspace) 3

West Greenwich 4

21,400

9,180

2,930

9,050

400

22,530

East Greenwich

12,300

4,220

3,460

3,050

1,570

0

Blackheath 5

11,300

3,000

3,000

5,000

300

0

Lee Green 5

16,300

5,000

6,000

4,300

1,000

0

Plumstead High Street

12,500

3,500

3,000

4,000

2,000

0

Thamesmead

21,850

6,850

10,420

4,100

500

0

Larger town centres

220,450

104,050

43,360

53,850

19,370

41,200

Local Centres & Neighbourhood Parades 6

7 Local Centres, 32 Parades 6

66,950

12,830

21,260

25,030

7,830

n/a

ALL CENTRES / PARADES

287,400

116,880

64,620

78,880

27,200

Out-of-centre 7, 8

All superstores / retail warehouses

78,550

61,000

11,300

1,000

5,250

2,400

Greenwich Peninsula 9

50,350

TOTAL

365,950

177,880

75,920

79,880

32,450

91,550

   
Notes to Table TC1
  1. Major/district centres as defined in the London Plan, plus East Greenwich
  2. Permission at Woolwich Royal Arsenal: 12-14,000 m2 , mostly A3 with ancillary/non destination A1 only.
  3. See table TC2 and Proposal Map
  4. Permission granted in 2000 at Greenwich Reach East, of which up to c.10,000 m2 could be A3.
  5. Blackheath and Lee Green are mainly located in Lewisham.
  6. See tables TC2, TC3 and Proposal Map.
  7. Retail warehouses and supermarkets, mostly on Woolwich Road or Bugsby's Way. Excludes stand-alone local shops.
  8. Permission (outline) for non-food retail off Brocklebank Road/Bugsby's Way, Site rear / west of Lidl.
  9. Outline planning permission granted to Meridian Delta Limited for up to 31,000 sqm (gross) A1 and A2 and up to 19,350 sqm A3 on Greenwich Peninsula including within the Millennium Dome.
 
BOROUGH CONTEXT AND REASONS FOR PART ONE POLICIES
   
Background
8.2 Town centres provide an important social and economic focus for the districts and communities they serve. Collectively they offer a broad mix of facilities, services and jobs in locations accessible to the widest range of people by a choice of modes of transport. Reviving the Borough’s town centres is a key objective of the Greenwich Strategy (2003). While retailing normally underpins these other activities, the Borough’s town centres face stiff competition from out-of-centre retail developments that provide extensive free car parking. These include Bluewater and concentrations of retail warehousing such as Charlton. Some of the Borough’s town centres have experienced a decline in both convenience and durable goods shopping, and increasing vacancy levels that threaten their retail role and viability.
8.3 Curbs on further out-of-centre development following introduction of the Sequential Approach in PPS6 Planning for Town Centres, in conjunction with other social trends and a buoyant economy in the late 1990's, have led to a selective resurgence in town centre fortunes. UK leisure spending doubled in real terms in the last quarter of the 20 th Century. An increasing number of people are working hours that differ from the traditional working week, creating a demand for extended opening hours for retail and leisure activities.
8.4 In this regard the threat to the retail role of some of the Borough’s centres is also an opportunity. The redevelopment of redundant sites and conversion of underused premises can allow diversification into more sustainable roles. Activities such as tourism, leisure, community, employment or residential use can in turn boost a flagging retail sector by attracting new customers. It is therefore important that on the one hand planning policies for the Borough both promote retail investment and protect the retail activity that remains. On the other, they must also facilitate the emergence of complementary, alternative or ‘niche’ roles where this would benefit the overall vitality and viability of a centre, without unduly compromising local services accessible to less mobile residents.
Borough Town Centres
8.5 Woolwich is the Borough's main centre for shopping, civic and community services, and office employment. It is designated as a Major Centre in the London Plan, and recognised to be in need of regeneration. Woolwich is the Borough’s priority location for major retail and multiplex development, and a preferred location for employment, tourism and leisure uses. Woolwich is constrained to the north by the Thames, yet access to the Royal Arsenal, Riverside walk and Riverside Park is hampered by the busy A206.
8.6 After a difficult period of general decline and retail contraction in the early to late 1990's, Woolwich is experiencing renewed investment and interest stimulated by regeneration of the historic Woolwich Royal Arsenal, other regeneration programmes and the planned extension of the Docklands Light Railway. The Arsenal is being redeveloped for a mix of uses including heritage tourism. It offers a major opportunity to diversify and transform Woolwich by stimulating the re-use of town centre development sites and redundant buildings.
8.7 The Council is using its role as planning authority to ensure that the Arsenal integrates with and complements the existing town centre, rather than competing with existing retail functions in Woolwich. Through the Woolwich Regeneration Agency the Council is also taking a more proactive role, in partnership with the London Development Agency, including the assembly and compulsory purchase of key development sites. The western end of the Arsenal and the adjacent Warren Lane development site are being promoted for mixed-use development including commercial leisure uses such as a multiplex cinema. In addition the Arsenal redevelopment, office conversions and planning permissions elsewhere in the town centre provide a development pipeline of at least 3,000 new dwellings within the town centre, a figure likely to be significantly exceeded as other sites come forward over the Plan period. However, the Greenwich Retail Study (2002 & 2005 Update) notes that Woolwich remains vulnerable to competition and needs to improve its retail offer and market share to consolidate its recovery.
8.8 Greenwich is the most significant of the Borough’s District Centres as designated in the London Plan. Part of the town centre falls within the inscribed Greenwich Maritime World Heritage Site, internationally famous for its historic monuments, including the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory and the former Royal Naval College (a campus for Greenwich University and Trinity Music College). The majority of the area within the defined town centre boundary falls within either the West Greenwich or Greenwich Park Conservation Areas. Greenwich is a visitor destination of international status. Architectural attractions are complemented by the historic Greenwich Market and a wide range of pubs and restaurants.
8.9 Greenwich received a major boost with the completion of two new stations on the Dockland Light Rail extension to Lewisham, providing direct access to Canary Wharf and the City of London, and will benefit further from plans to increase the DLR’s passenger capacity. This is helping to bring forward a range of development proposals. The DLR has also created new opportunities for commercial, cultural and creative activities on nearby sites in underused parts of Deptford Creek. These are identified on the Proposals Inset Map, and discussed further in the West Greenwich Development Framework, adopted by the Council as Supplementary Planning Guidance (April 2000, to be updated).
8.10 Greenwich also suffers from heavy through traffic and other environmental problems, and conflicts between its roles as a major visitor destination and a local shopping centre. The Plan seeks to balance protection and enhancement of the historic environment, the needs of visitors, and the interests of local residents and businesses. In addition to the policies in this Plan, further guidance on design issues in the public realm it set out in the Greenwich Town Centre Streetscape Manual (1999).
8.11 Eltham is a designated Major Centre in the London Plan, is a significant employment centre and secondary office location, and the Borough’s second largest retail centre. The Greenwich Retail Study (2002 & 2005 update) noted it has a stronger retail role than Woolwich, concluding that the centre is relatively healthy - although its modest size leaves it vulnerable to competition from larger, competing centres. It complements Woolwich by providing a community focus for residents in the south of the Borough, a role that will be enhanced during the seven year South Greenwich SRB5 regeneration programme. Additional retail and leisure refurbishment or redevelopment will be supported within the town centre, on identified sites and elsewhere as opportunities arise.
8.12 Eltham is also conveniently located for the Green Chain Walk and important visitor attractions including Eltham Palace, Tudor Barn and Well Hall Pleasaunce. There is scope for tourism development to capitalise on these historic assets.
8.13 District Centres, Local Centres and Neighbourhood Parades primarily offer convenience and ‘top up’ shopping and services to their localities. They play an essential role in maintaining a sustainable pattern of retailing and service provision within walking distance of the communities they serve, of particular benefit to the less mobile and the large number of households in the Borough that do not have access to a car. In general the smaller centres contain a lower level of retail activity than larger centres, and have higher levels of service uses and vacancy. Some such as Plumstead High Street and Blackheath perform niche roles, with specialist Asian shopping and an extensive range of restaurants respectively. Others such as Blackheath Hill are in prolonged decline with little remaining retail function, despite having a relatively large number of units.
 
POLICIES
 
Centre-specific policies
   

WOOLWICH TOWN CENTRE
 
TC1 The Council will seek to ensure that the reuse and redevelopment of the Woolwich Royal Arsenal and Warren Lane site integrate and connect with, and complement and enhance, Woolwich as the Borough’s most important centre.
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  Reason
8.14 The 31-hectare Royal Arsenal site is a designated Mixed Use Area (see Policy W3). It is a unique part of Britain’s military and industrial heritage, containing 18 listed buildings, and most of it is also designated as a Conservation Area. The Royal Arsenal redevelopment is progressing in accordance with the approved Master Plan (1998, revised 2000). The Warren Lane (‘teardrop’) site is designated for mixed use, leisure led development (Site Schedule mu13). It adjoins, and is being jointly marketed with, the southwestern part of the Royal Arsenal, where heritage uses are concentrated. It occupies a pivotal position between the Arsenal and Macbean Street, a natural route into Powis Street. Collectively these schemes will substantially extend and diversify the town centre. The Council aims to ensure that those elements that have yet to be finalised also complement, rather than compete with, the centre’s existing functions, and in particular its retail role. These principles formed the basis of the Woolwich Town Centre Development Framework (1998 & 2000 update, currently under review), adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance.
 
TC2 The Council seeks to revitalise Woolwich as the Borough’s primary shopping centre, by facilitating increases in the quality, quantity and variety of retail floor space in the centre.
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  Reason
8.15 Woolwich has the largest retail floor space of any centre in the Borough, but has experienced persistent shop vacancy in its western fringes, and despite environmental and shopfront improvements is in need of further modernisation. It is therefore the Borough’s priority location for major retail investment, and has potential to consolidate its existing role in value retailing - a market niche that is growing in importance. The Greenwich Retail Study (2002 & 2005 update) identifies a need to claw back substantial trade leakage to surrounding centres. There is expenditure capacity based on current trends to accommodate a significant increase in both convenience (supermarket) and High Street comparison-shopping, equivalent to a 40% increase above currently trading floorspace. A range of potential development sites are identified in the Site Schedules, and further guidance is provided in The Woolwich Town Centre Development Framework (2002 Draft, under review).
 
TC3 The Council will support developments in tourism, culture, leisure, the evening economy and town centre living that contribute to the diversity, vitality and viability of Woolwich, and enhance its appeal as a destination for Borough residents and visitors.
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  Reason
8.16 Woolwich will become a major visitor focus but currently lacks appropriate facilities to complement its retail and service functions. It also has a number of underused, older office buildings, which are suitable for mixed use, two of which are being converted to residential use. Increasing the resident town centre population will in turn support and boost its shops and businesses. These issues are examined in more detail in the emerging revised Woolwich Town Centre Development Framework. Follow-up work in 2007/8 will also look at opportunities in, and wider integration with, the surrounding area.
 
TC4 The Council will seek to ensure that the former Greenwich University Calderwood Street site in Woolwich Town Centre (Site Schedule mu27) is developed for a mix of uses to include activity-generating town centre uses.
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  Reason
8.17 The Council is seeking replacement uses that will make a similarly broad contribution to the Woolwich economy within a comprehensive mixed-use development. Town Centres are acknowledged to be suitable locations for retail, office, residential, leisure, entertainment, and education functions (PPS6 Planning for Town Centres). Woolwich Town Centre is a suitable location for such major trip generating uses due to its accessibility to staff and the public by a variety of forms of public transport. Part of the site is Grade II Listed.
 
TC5 The Council will seek to secure safer and more convenient pedestrian and cycle access to and within the town centre, and between the town centre, the waterfront and the Royal Arsenal.
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  Reason
8.18 To improve the accessibility of Woolwich by public and non-motorised transport, especially for residents without access to a car, to reduce the need to travel by car, and to improve safety and environmental quality in the town centre. The severance of the Royal Arsenal and Warren Lane sites from the town centre by Beresford Street/Plumstead Road is an impediment to their redevelopment to support town centre regeneration. The Council is pursuing a package of measures to reduce the severance caused by Beresford Street/Plumstead Road including traffic calming and visual improvements.
 
TC6 The Council will safeguard the alignment of Crossrail and the extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Woolwich, and will promote and support the provision of Greenwich Waterfront Transit to serve Woolwich town centre. The Council will seek to secure provision of an integrated transport interchange incorporating Woolwich Arsenal station, and to capitalise on the opportunity for associated retail and commercial development.
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  Reason
8.19 The Council has expressed its formal support for the proposed Docklands Light Railway Extension to Woolwich from City Airport and the Royal Docks, safeguarded under Policy M8. The Council also formally supports the Greenwich Waterfront Transit route Abbey Wood, via Woolwich, to Greenwich. The safeguarded trans-London Crossrail routes are supported in principle (see Site Schedule m5), and the Council is promoting inclusion of a Crossrail station at Woolwich. These schemes are promoted in the London Plan and the Mayor’s Transport Strategy (2001). A site has been identified for a new transport interchange with the DLR near Woolwich Arsenal station, which also presents an opportunity for associated retail/commercial development (see Site Schedule mu14 and the Woolwich Interchange Planning Brief, 2002). Safeguarding also remains in place for a rail link by tunnel between Silvertown and Woolwich (See also Policies M8, M10 and M11) .
 
Greenwich Town Centre
   
TC7 The Council will protect and enhance the site and setting of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, as defined on the Proposals Map. Development within it should preserve and enhance its essential and unique character and appearance. Views and vistas to and from the World Heritage Site will also be protected by ensuring that developments in the buffer zone of the Site or directly visible from it are visually sympathetic.
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  Reasons
8.20 The Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site was inscribed in 1997 under the 1972 World Heritage Convention. It formed the sixteenth World Heritage Site in the UK, in recognition of its outstanding and internationally significant universal value. It comprises one of the finest and most dramatically sited architectural and landscape ensembles in the British Isles. It includes the historic centre of the town with the architectural masterpieces and designed landscape of the Old Royal Naval College, National Maritime Museum and extending outside the town centre to include the Royal Park. The strong historical association of the area with shipbuilding, seafaring, the navy, royalty and the measurement of time and distance, combine with the brilliant architectural expressions of them within a historic landscape, to make Greenwich unique.
8.21 PPG15 Planning and Historic Environment states that the inclusion of a site on the World Heritage List highlights its outstanding international importance as a key material consideration to be taken into account by local planning authorities in determining planning applications and listed building consent applications. Guidance stresses that sites should be protected for the benefit of future generations, and that development proposals affecting sites or their buffer zones require careful scrutiny for their likely effect on sites, or their settings in the longer term. To achieve this planning authorities are advised to formulate specific planning policies for protecting World Heritage Sites.
8.22 The Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site Management Plan (2005) provides a framework for the activities that take place in the Site, whilst ensuring that they do not conflict with the need to protect the heritage qualities that make Maritime Greenwich such a special and unique place. It sets out aims and objectives for the Site and a programme of long and short-term actions. Both the Site and the buffer zone are also protected by Conservation Area designation.
 
TC8 The Council will preserve and promote the enhancement of historic Greenwich town centre. Refurbishment or new development in Greenwich must be appropriately scaled, respect existing form and character, and demonstrate the highest standards in design, landscaping, detailing and finishing.
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  Reason
8.23 To maintain and preserve the architectural integrity and identity of the town centre, and to ensure that new development complements its existing form and character. Supplementary Planning Guidance on streetscape design is provided in TheGreenwich Town Centre Streetscape Manual (1999) and Greenwich Town Centre Colour Guidance Note (2002). The Stockwell Street Planning Brief (2000) provides advice for the largest development site in the core of the town centre (Site Schedule mu3). For shop-fronts and signs within Greenwich Town Centre the Council has produced two design guidelines, Design Guidance for Shop-fronts in Greenwich Town Centre and Design Guidance for Shop Signs, Advertisements and Illumination in Town Centre.
 
TC9 The Council will support and promote the multi functional role of Greenwich town centre. The Council will seek to capitalise on its cultural strengths as a visitor destination and centre for tertiary education, and will seek to expand and diversify its business base. Employment, retailing, tourism, culture, leisure, hospitality, education and residential developments will be supported where they preserve and enhance its heritage and environment, maintain its diversity and provide a balanced range of opportunities and services for residents, the business community, students and visitors.
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  Reason
8.24 Greenwich is a well-established international, national and regional tourist and visitor destination by virtue of its world-class heritage features and specialist markets. To a significant extent this role shapes its wider commercial functions in retailing, hospitality and leisure uses, although its role in providing convenience shopping, services and leisure activities for the local community is also vitally important (see Policy TC10). At present Greenwich has limited success in attracting overnight visitors, and there is a need to improve the range of accommodation and evening hospitality and leisure uses.
8.25 This visitor destination role is complemented by a growing presence in further and higher education, a sector that offers scope to bring further economic and educational benefits to the Borough. The growing prominence of the University of Greenwich and Trinity College of Music (incorporating the Laban Centre for contemporary dance) are helping to improve the profile, vitality and viability of Greenwich town centre. These two universities accommodate about 10,000 students in Greenwich. Their operations, staff and students provide opportunities for Greenwich companies including local retailing and leisure facilities, and are helping to attract new business investment in the town centre area. There are also a number of smaller, specialist or independent colleges and halls of residence in the wider vicinity including Deptford.
8.26 Greenwich also offers opportunities to expand its currently modest role as a business and office location, in particular around Deptford Creekside. Additional factors include surplus industrial land, good transport accessibility, proximity to Canary Wharf and the ‘marketability’ of Greenwich. This necessitates striking an appropriate balance between Greenwich’s various roles and utilizing or moderating pressures for residential development. Protection of existing industrial uses, start up and small business premises will continue to be important where they are viable and well utilized. On the other hand there is a need to increase, modernize and diversify the business space available, particularly for office and studio workshop-based activities including creative industries. See the West Greenwich Development Framework (2000, to be updated in 2007/8).
 
TC10 The Council will safeguard A1 shopping facilities and encourage their development in Greenwich Town Centre to meet the needs of residents, workers and visitors. Applications for change of permitted use from retail (A1 or A2) to restaurants (A3) bars (A4), and take-aways (A5) will only be permitted within defined shopping frontages in accordance with Policy TC18. In new developments with prominent pedestrian frontages food and drink uses (A3, A4 & A5) should form part of a balanced mix.
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  Reason
8.27 The range of shops in Greenwich barely meets the needs of local residents. Whilst the number of restaurant, bar and take away facilities is more than sufficient (approximately 35 units, or 23% as at 2001, within core and fringe frontages alone), the Council wishes to manage the overall provision of food and drink uses to secure a greater choice of A3 seated restaurants that offer a good quality evening dining. In accordance with flexibility offered under Policy TC18 exceptions may be made for restaurants that cater to this market, to benefit residents and the tourism economy alike. Significant commercial development sites elsewhere in the town centre should include a reasonable balance of uses.
8.28 Greenwich also experiences problems with un-permitted encroachment of snack-oriented A3 activity within A1 shops, and the Council will use its enforcement powers where appropriate. For clarity it should be noted that A3 use applies to the use of a unit for the primary purpose of the sale of food or beverages for consumption on the premises. Under the General Development Order (1987 as revised) such activity is only allowable in A1 shops where it is functionally linked with, and ancillary to, the main retail activity taking place.
 
TC11 Market development will be strictly controlled in Greenwich town centre to protect the amenities of residents and the qualities of the Conservation Area.
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  Reason
8.29 Markets are a traditional part of the character of Greenwich town centre and a popular attraction for visitors. However, poor management and their proliferation can cause environmental problems. The Council will seek improvements in the management and facilities of the town centre’s markets through the cooperation of landowners and stallholders.
 
TC12 The Council will seek to introduce traffic management, traffic restraints, bus priority and pedestrian priority schemes to reduce the effects of through traffic on Greenwich town centre and surrounding areas whilst improving convenience and safety for pedestrian, improving journey times by public transport, and reducing pollution. Additional parking provision will be restricted to an essential minimum. Waterfront Transit will be promoted and sought to serve the area.
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  Reason
8.30 Greenwich town centre suffers badly from congestion, pollution and vibration due to its position astride a major traffic route. Although the lorry ban has improved the situation, heavy traffic volumes, including coaches, still pose a threat to the structure of historic buildings, and to the health and safety of residents, employees and visitors. See also Polices M20, M28 and M42.
8.31 Given improved public transport connections to the town centre and through the north of the Borough, it is considered that visitors and commuters traveling by private vehicle should be encouraged to use public transport, and therefore that road use priorities in the town centre should prioritise pedestrians and those using more sustainable forms of transport.
 
Eltham Town Centre
   
TC13 The Council will support and promote Eltham as a vibrant community and cultural centre for south Greenwich.
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  Reasons
8.32 Eltham town centre would benefit from a more clearly defined social and cultural role to complement and enhance its commercial strengths. The SRB5 South Greenwich programme will provide opportunities to improve Eltham’s profile, positively address its image, and forge stronger connections with its catchment area and communities.
 
TC14 The Council will seek to safeguard and improve the range of shopping, restaurant and leisure facilities in Eltham, and will encourage the provision of facilities to take better commercial advantage of its tourism potential.
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  Reason
8.33 Eltham is the Borough’s second largest but strongest retail centre for comparison or durable goods. Vacancy rates are very low within the defined retail frontages (6% in 2001 compared to 11% in 1998), and A1 retail representation is stable at 60% (town centre surveys, 1998 and 2001, by number of units). The Greenwich Retail Study (2002) confirms earlier research findings that Eltham is under provided in food retailing. It also currently lacks adequate leisure and youth facilities in relation to the area it serves. Provision of a new leisure centre is an objective in the Greenwich Strategy, and planning permission has been granted for one on Site Schedule mu2. Eltham could take greater advantage of its proximity to the Green Chain Walk and important visitor attractions including Eltham Palace, Tudor Barn and Well Hall Pleasaunce.
8.34 The Council wishes to manage the overall provision of A3, A4 and A5 food and drink uses to secure a greater choice of A3 seated restaurants that offer good quality evening dining. In accordance with flexibility offered under Policy TC18 exceptions may be made for restaurants that cater to this market, to benefit residents and the tourism economy alike.
8.35 Development opportunities have been identified in the Eltham Town Centre Development Guidelines, 1997, under review) and the Site Schedules (mu12, mu15), although scope for expansion in the town centre is limited due to its close proximity to residential areas. In the event that the identified Eltham sites prove unable to accommodate all the capacity identified, the preferred alternative location for additional supermarket floorspace in the south of the Borough is the new Local Centre as part of the Kidbrooke Development Area (See Policy H4).
 
TC15 The Council will support and promote measures for bus priority, to reduce traffic congestion, and improve public and pedestrian safety and comfort in Eltham town centre, and will seek to improve its streetscape and environmental quality.
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  Reason
8.36 Eltham suffers from heavy through traffic, and would benefit from further environmental improvements in addition to the town centre square project for Passey Place (2000). As resources permit, the Council will investigate traffic calming, parking controls, bus priority schemes, CCTV installation, and streetscape improvements in partnership with the local community and the Eltham Town Centre steering group.
 
DEVELOPMENT IN TOWN CENTRES
 
Key Town Centre Uses and the Sequential Approach
   
TC16 Town centres are the preferred location for retailing, leisure and other key town centre uses that attract or serve the public including offices, hospitality, tourism and cultural facilities. These activities will be permitted in town centres, providing the type and scale of development is appropriate to the size and role of the centre in the Borough’s town centre hierarchy.
  Retail or indoor leisure developments or extensions on edge-of-centre or out-of-centre sites will only be acceptable where:
  i. There is a need for the development;
  ii. There are no sequentially preferable sites;
  iii. The proposal would not demonstrably harm the vitality and viability of an existing shopping centre, individually or cumulatively with recent or committed developments. Planning conditions or legal agreements will be employed on new developments including reconfigurations to minimize impacts on town centres.
  iv. Proposals are, or will be made, conveniently accessible by a choice of modes of transport including walking and cycling.
  v. The proposal would not unacceptably impact on residential amenity, the environment, traffic patterns or road congestion.
  vi. Parking provision is consistent with the relevant standards and principles in Policies M23, M24, M26 and M27.
  Reconfiguration of existing out-of-centre retail and leisure floorspace will be considered against Criteria (iii) – (vi).
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  Reason
8.37 The importance of supporting and enhancing town centres is emphasised in PPS6 Planning for Town Centres and the London Plan. Town centres tend to be the focus of public transport networks, offering affordable and sustainable access to a range of facilities and services for all sectors of the community, reducing dependence on the private car.
8.38 Promoting and protecting diversity can contribute to the vitality and viability of town centres, particularly those suffering from retail decline, by attracting additional customers, simplifying multi-purpose trips, and extending trading opportunities into the evening and weekends. The nature and extent of these uses will vary between centres, but would typically include some of the activities identified in the policy, falling within uses A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, C1, D1 and D2 of the Use Classes Order (1987 as amended 2005). These activities can both benefit from and reinforce proximity to a healthy retail sector, although other locations have also been identified as suitable for some of these uses (see also Policy T1 for hotels, C1 for community facilities, and Policies J4, J7 and W3 for offices).
8.39 Town centres are generally underpinned by retailing, are thus vulnerable to out-of-centre retail development. This policy will therefore apply to all retail uses including retail warehouses and other formats open to the visiting public, unless the retail element is both ancillary and minor in terms of both floorspace and especially turnover. See also Policy J8 for wholesale uses. Hybrid uses which combine wholesale and retail activity will considered individually against the most relevant parts of both policies. PPS6 Planning for Town Centres confirms that indoor leisure uses (Use Class D2) are also subject to need assessment and the sequential approach.
8.40 Retail (and leisure) proposals at edge or out-of-centre locations must first demonstrate need. The Greenwich Retail Study (Donaldsons 2002) examines retail provision, town centre performance and shopping patterns in the Borough, to establish whether there is need for any additional retail floorspace in the period to 2011. This Study is also specifically intended to serve as a capacity model and baseline information source to be updated for any significant retail applications submitted during the Plan period. It concludes that there is capacity underpinned by a need for regeneration for a significant increase in both convenience and comparison shopping floorspace in the Woolwich catchment, moderate capacity for both in the Eltham catchment, but limited capacity in the Greenwich catchment (which includes Charlton and also Greenwich Peninsula, where planning permission has been granted for approximately 31,000 sqm of additional retail floorspace within a major mixed development including 10,010 new dwellings). The Retail Study Update (August 2005) will also be material.
8.41 The Mixed Use Site Schedules identify a range of sites to accommodate new town centre retailing, and there is also scope to provide a medium to large supermarket and other local retail facilities as part of the Kidbrooke redevelopment (see Policy H4). In terms of retail warehousing, DIY was the only sector where need was identified up to 2011, alongside overcapacity in some other sectors. Reconfiguration of existing retail warehousing may help redress this imbalance e.g. on Site Schedule mu29.
8.42 Given the conclusions of the Greenwich Retail Study and Update it is not envisaged that further significant retail development will take place outside town centres in the Plan period. In the event need can be established, proposals outside or on the edge of town centres must demonstrate that there are no sequentially preferable sites available, taking a flexible approach to store formats in relation to the sites available (see PPS6). For ‘top up’ convenience shopping an assessment of need based on a demonstration that there is a local gap in provision of adequate top up shopping in walking distance of the proposed site will be sufficient. Charlton Business Park (see Policy J3) accommodates the borough’s main concentration of out-of-centre retailing and offers scope for linked trips, and is thus preferable to other free-standing out-of-centre locations.
8.43 Planning conditions and/or legal agreements will be applied to out-of-centre retail planning permissions to limit the range of goods sold, and to define a maximum floorspace permitted. In defining a location as ‘out-’ or ‘edge-of-centre’, centre size, distance from defined core shopping frontages and barriers to pedestrian movement will be relevant considerations.
 
Protected Core, Fringe and Local Shopping Frontages
   
TC17 The Council will seek to protect the overall viability of town centres by designating Core (Primary) and Fringe (Secondary) Shopping Frontages in major and district centres, and by designating local centres in their entirety as Local Shopping Frontage. At ground floor level a minimum of 70% of Core Frontage, and 50% of Fringe and Local Frontage, should be available for A1 retail use.
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  Reasons
8.44 The Council seeks to protect both retail activity and central areas within town centres where retailing is the dominant use. In larger centres fringe areas complement core retail frontages by providing locations for specialist shops and services which cannot afford core rents. This best serves the interests of shoppers, and protects the long-term viability of town centres for retailing.Core, fringe and local shopping frontages are identified on the proposals maps or in Table TC2.
8.45 The calculation of the percentage limits on non-A1 uses will be based on linear length of designated shopping frontage. In district and local centres the calculation will be applied to the entire frontage designated by core, fringe or local category. In major centres, it will be applied to an individual block of frontage, relevant to the application site. This policy will also be applied to new units within designated frontages, or where they form a logical extension to an existing frontage.
8.46 The 50% threshold in fringe and local frontages is intended to limit the loss of retail units in fringe frontages and local centres, to protect retail choice, vitality and viability without unduly constraining opportunities for an acceptable level of diversification. These thresholds reflect existing trends in the Borough. A1 retail occupancy in core frontages of the Borough’s larger centres declined slightly from 72% to 66% between 1993 and 2001, while the level of non-retail facilities in the fringe has risen from 31% to 45% (Council surveys, based on number of units).
8.47 Core frontages are not designated in Local Centres. Being smaller they tend to offer basic convenience or ‘top up’ retailing and local services, rather than comparison shopping opportunities for larger items. Retail (A1) representation across all local centres was 52% in 2001. In Neighbourhood Parades retail representation may be low, and greater emphasis will be placed on safeguarding essential local services (see Policy TC19).
 
Non-retail (A1) Uses in Protected Shopping Frontages
   
TC18 The Council will support the provision of a range of activity generating non-retail uses in town centres, including evening activities where environmentally appropriate, subject to the ground floor retail thresholds set out in Policy TC17. Non-retail proposals:
  i. Should directly serve visiting members of the public, generate and not impede pedestrian activity, and keep the shopping frontage active and viable;
  ii. Should include the installation and retention of a display window of good design;
  iii. Must not result in the loss of an occupied A1 retail unit where reasonable alternative premises are available elsewhere in that centre;
  iv. Will not be permitted if as a result breaks between occupied A1 premises exceed two units in core frontages or three in fringe or local frontages; and
  v. Will not be permitted if as a result either the Use Class category proposed or the combined total of A3, A4 and A5 uses would occupy more than 25% of all designated frontage premises within that centre
8.48 PPS6 Planning for Town Centres notes that encouraging a diverse range of Key Town Centre Uses within town centres can enhance their vitality and viability. Through diversity town centres can better meet the needs and aspirations of local communities, and provide a range of local employment. In turn diversity is underpinned by a vital retail sector, which provides a focus of activity for other uses.
8.49 The policy applies limits to the extent and co-location of non-A1 uses to avoid the loss of a ‘critical mass’ of retail activity in protected frontages. It is intended to avoid stretches of ‘dead’ frontage lacking in pedestrian activity, and to avoid the fragmentation of retail areas, which could undermine the centre as a whole.
8.50 Subject to other relevant policies, exceptions to retail safeguards may be made for community uses, or where retail premises are vacant and cannot be let or sold for retailing, to facilitate transition to more sustainable patterns of use. In such cases the general levels of vacancy in a centre or frontage block, the letting history of the premises, and evidence of active and realistic marketing of the unit for retailing will be relevant considerations. Exceptions may be made to criterion (iii)–(v) for A3 restaurants, particularly in Eltham and Greenwich (see Policies TC10 and TC14). Exceptional cases must offer regular evening dining, and operators may be required to enter into a legal agreement to ensure this remains the case. The Council will consider producing more detailed advice on food and drink uses in a Supplementary Planning Document.
 
Essential local facilities in Neighbourhood Parades andfreestanding premises
   
TC19 In considering proposals for Neighbourhood Parades and freestanding neighbourhood shops the Council will seek to safeguard existing A1 retail uses and the provision of a minimum range of essential local facilities including a general grocer, newsagent, post office, chemist, doctor and dentist. Change of use in any such facility will be opposed if it would result in the loss without replacement of a valued local service, or its loss would place the surrounding area more than 400 metres from the nearest alternative.
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  Reasons
8.51 Local shops, social and health facilities within walking distance of residential areas are a valued element of the social fabric and help to minimise social exclusion. They particularly benefit residents without cars or with constrained mobility, who might otherwise be effectively deprived of the services they provide. In determining applications for premises in neighbourhood parades or freestanding local shops the Council will firstly seek to safeguard existing essential local services, as defined in the policy. The second objective is to ensure the provision of any essential local service not currently provided within a 400-metre radius. The third objective is to safeguard other existing A1 retail uses. Changes to other environmentally suitable uses will be considered where premises are vacant, and it can be demonstrated that there is no demand or market for the permitted use or an alternative essential local service not currently represented. Evidence of active but unsuccessful marketing on realistic terms will be relevant in such cases. Exceptions will be made for the loss of health facilities as part of a managed modernisation programme (see Policy C2).
 
Arts, Cultural and Entertainment facilities
   
TC20 The Council will seek to retain premises for arts, cultural or entertainment activities for their intended or an equivalent use, particularly purpose-built facilities of borough-wide significance, providing their use does not unacceptably impact on residential amenity or traffic levels.
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  Reasons
8.52 The Greenwich Strategy seeks to promote improved access to, and facilities for, arts and cultural use. The Policy seeks to prevent the loss of sites and premises for social, arts, cultural or entertainment uses, providing such use is environmentally appropriate. These are of cumulative social and recreational benefit to local communities, and can generate civic spirit, tourism, alternative sources of employment, and other economic benefits. Such facilities are typically located in or near town centres. See also Policy J9 for arts-related workspace.
 
Use of Premises Above Shops
   
TC21 The use of vacant or under-used floor space above shops for offices, community activities or other Town Centre Uses will normally be permitted, except where:
  i. It would result in the loss of reasonable residential accommodation with separate access;
  ii. It would unacceptably harm the amenity of neighbouring residents; or
  iii. Parking, site servicing and access arrangements are inadequate for the intended purpose.
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  Reasons
8.53 There is a need to increase commercial viability, generate jobs and find premises for small business and community uses in these locations. This needs to be balanced against the need to retain residential accommodation as far as is practicable.
 
Town centre living
   
TC22 The Council will promote town centre living through supporting mixed-use town centre developments that contain a residential element above ground floor level. Residential conversion of premises above shops, and vacant town centre buildings or parts of buildings outside protected shopping frontages that cannot be let or sold for their permitted use, will normally be acceptable, providing:
  i. Premises in current office or community use are not lost (see Policies J5 and C2);
  ii. Dwellings offer a good quality and secure living environment, incorporating where appropriate measures to reduce to reasonable levels noise, vibration and other forms of pollution; and
  iii. Separate and secure access to residential areas is provided, and dwellings overlook public areas wherever practical.
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  Reasons
8.54 PPS6 Planning for Town Centres notes that increasing town centre population can make a contribution to vitality and viability, foster development of the evening economy, and improve personal safety outside normal business hours. Housing can also sustainably re‑use town centre buildings which are vacant or no longer suited to their original purpose (see Policy H1), providing a good quality and secure living environment can be created (see Policies D7 and E3). To ensure that offices are not prematurely lost to housing, evidence of reasonable and active site marketing for the permitted use will be required (see Policy J5). Affordable housing will be sought in developments providing 15 or more dwellings (see Policy H14).
8.55 Due to the close proximity of shops and other facilities, town centre housing may particularly suit the less mobile including wheelchair users, and provision of dwelling suited to their needs will be encouraged wherever practical. Town centres also tend to be highly accessible by public transport, and suitable for car-free housing. In centres with good public transport access, parking provision other than for occupants with disabilities is considered unnecessary and undesirable. Access to on‑street parking permits may be restricted by legal agreement, and commuted payments may be sought to improve public transport (see Policies H19, M25, M26-M30).
   
URBAN ENVIRONMENT
   
8.56

Improving the quality of the built and natural environments of town centres is a policy priority. Controlling congestion and pollution, and promoting quality in design, materials and the layout of buildings and public space, will benefit residents, employees and customers by creating a more pleasant, accessible, safe and efficient backdrop for retail and other activities.
8.57 The Design and Conservation and Environmental Protection chapters, and in particular Policies(D1- D8, E1 and E2), sets out the Council’s detailed policies to achieve quality in urban design and to safeguard and enhance the built, natural and historic environments. The supplementary policies below seek to minimise adverse environmental impacts from retail and town centre activities, enhance customer facilities, improve movement and improve servicing within town centres.
 
Environmental Protection
   
TC23 Town centre developments will be required where necessary to install or implement appropriate measures to control or mitigate to acceptable levels noise, vibrations, fumes and smells, dust, refuse storage and litter, or other environmental impacts. Proposals will be refused where their environmental impacts would unduly impact on the operation of local businesses or the amenity of nearby residents.
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  Reasons
8.58 The Council seeks to balance general support for commercial activities in town centres with the need to safeguard and enhance their environment, comfort and appeal to benefit local residents, customers, employees, and businesses. The Policy aims to prevent, minimise or mitigate unacceptable environmental and amenity impacts (see also Policies E1 and E2), whilst acknowledging that background levels of disturbance and/or pollution in town centres should reasonably be expected to exceed those in ‘suburban’ areas.
 
Civic Spaces
   
TC24 Development proposals that would diminish the character and use of town centre civic spaces will be resisted.
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  Reason
8.59 Civic spaces such as Cutty Sark Gardens (See The Cutty Sark Gardens Planning Brief, 2006), General Gordon Square, Beresford Square, Dial Arch Square and Passey Place make a valuable contribution to the character, townscape and activity of the Borough’s town centres. They provide a focal point for day-to-day activities, and a venue for outdoor arts, cultural and entertainment events.
 
Site Access, Servicing and Parking
   
TC25 Provision should be made for customer access, servicing and cycle parking in all significant new town centre developments, including wherever feasible and appropriate drop off points, ramped access and/or lifts for people with reduced mobility. Car parking requirements will be considered in accordance with principles of traffic reduction, existing public parking and the standards in the Movement Chapter. Recycling facilities should be provided in car parks of more than 200 spaces.
 
TC26 The Council will seek to improve delivery access, vehicle turning and waste storage arrangements in existing shopping frontages when considering applications for new uses, and will likewise expect safe and hygienic arrangements in new developments. It will look for opportunities to remove conflicts between on street servicing and bus movements, and where necessary to consider imposing restrictions on delivery hours.
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  Reasons for Policies TC25 & TC26
8.60 The Council seeks to balance traffic reduction priorities with the need to improve the environmental quality, safety, and accessibility within town centres. Excessive parking provision is a waste of land and can encourage further car use. On the other hand, facilities and buildings should be safely accessible to all, including people in wheelchairs, carers and parents with buggies, young children and older people. The right balance will help to reduce car use overall whilst also reducing illegal parking by customers and delivery vehicles. Such obstructions cause traffic congestion, disrupt bus routes, and can create pedestrian hazards such as vehicular movements on footpaths. See Policies M23-M35.
 
Markets and Car Boot Sales
   
TC27 Where planning permission is required, proposals for market stalls, new markets and or car boot sales will be permitted unless they would unacceptably impact on:
  i. Residential amenity, the character of a conservation area or setting of a listed building, or on the natural environment;
  ii. The usual use of the proposed site and the operation of permanent businesses located in the vicinity;
  iii. Pedestrian and highway safety, parking congestion or the flow of traffic especially public transport.
  Conditions may be imposed to control hours of operation and to ensure that adequate arrangements are made for parking, servicing, storage, site restitution, and the disposal and/or recycling of refuse.
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  Reasons
8.61 Markets are a popular form of traditional retailing, and play an important role in Woolwich and Greenwich town centres (see also Policy TC11). They provide a range of benefits and help to meet local shopping needs, but can generate problems for the environment, residential amenity and other local businesses. Car boot sales are an alternative retail form increasing in popularity, but one often involving a significant intensification of use on open land, and high levels of car trip generation - often very early in the morning. Council policy aims to protect nearby residents and businesses, as well as customers, by controlling, minimizing or mitigating potential environmental problems, especially noise at antisocial hours and litter, and potential traffic and parking congestion, especially in residential streets. It also seeks to ensure temporarily occupied sites remain fit for their usual purpose.
8.62 Under the General Permitted Development Order (1995) Part 4 Class B, markets and car boot sales may operate without the need for planning permission for up to 14 days in any calendar year unless there is an Article 4 Direction in force (removing General Permitted Development rights), or unless the land in question is a building or is in within the curtilage of a building. In effect this means that planning permission will always be required unless the site is on undeveloped land, that is land with no associated buildings or with no permitted or established use (for the avoidance of doubt car parking and playing fields constitute development).
 
Hot food take-away outlets including drive-through restaurants
   
TC28 Town Centres and Neighbourhood Parades are the preferred location for hot food take-away establishments including drive-through restaurants (Use Class A5). Hot food take-aways will be permitted providing:
  i. The proposed use and the level of activity it generates is appropriate in the location proposed, and would not unacceptably impact on residential or workplace amenity, nor on the environment or the character of the area;
  ii. Customer visits by car would not unacceptably impact on existing or proposed public transport provision, traffic movements, road or pedestrian safety; and
  iii. The proposal complies with applicable retail frontage policies and does not jeopardize the provision of an essential local service (see Policies TC17-TC19).
  iv. Proposals outside Major, District and Local centres predicated on serving a wider than ‘walk-in’ catchment demonstrate that:- they serve a need not generally met by existing facilities, that there are no sequentially preferable sites available and that they are conveniently and safely accessible by public transport as well as by cycle and on foot.
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  Reasons
8.63 Hot food take away premises fall within Use Class A5. They often attract significant numbers of customers, and are also commonly associated with environmental and amenity problems such as litter, waste disposal, fumes, late night noise and traffic. For this reason they are best located in town centres in accordance with the sequential approach and due to their potential for linked trips to local shops, and because background activity levels are usually higher. Hot food uses will need to be designed and sited with additional care in areas of special character.
8.64 The number of premises in designated centres and parades in food and drink use (A3, A4 and A5) increased from 15% to 18% between 1993 and 1998, creating pressures on premises in other uses. It has since dropped back to 16% in 2001. The overall level of food and drink use (including A5 take-aways) in any centre will be limited by policies for core, fringe and local frontages (TC17 and TC18). These apply a maximum threshold of 25% of premises for all food and drink uses to safeguard retailing and ensure a reasonable mix of facilities are available to local residents.
8.65 Safeguards on amenity and the environment are set out in Policy TC23 (see also E1), and in relation to hot food uses can normally be mitigated by installation of suitable ducting and waste storage facilities, and restrictions on opening hours. Additional safeguards may be sought in relation to parking and traffic issues to reduce problems arising from illegal short term parking by customers. This can unacceptably reduce safety and increase congestion by impeding traffic, bus movements, cyclist and pedestrians.
 
Retail facilities in Petrol Stations
   
TC29 The Council will normally permit forecourt retailing in Major, District and Local Centres, and in Neighbourhood Parades on sites abutting or within the existing shopping parade, providing:
  i. The proposal will not unacceptably impact on public transport operations, traffic levels, traffic congestion or highway safety;
  ii. The proposal will not unacceptably impact on residential amenity or the environment;
  iii. The shop is safely and conveniently accessible to pedestrians and cyclists; and
  iv. Dedicated parking is provided for shop customers without obstructing the forecourt, site servicing or other on-site activities.
  v. On sites outside defined retail centres and parades, forecourt retail (Use Class A1) floorspace shall not exceed 150 m2 (net) unless the proposal meets a demonstrable local need not served by existing local convenience shops, and it is demonstrated that there are no sequentially preferable sites available sufficient to accommodate the retail element on a stand alone basis.
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  Reasons
8.66 The Council seeks to maintain and support the existing network of town centres and shopping parades by focusing new retail investment within such locations, in accordance with Guidance in PPG1, PPS6 and PPG13. These are defined on the Proposals and Inset Maps, or in Tables TC2 and TC3. The policy supports forecourt-retailing proposals where they contribute to the vitality and viability of town centres, and opposes them in out-of-centre locations where they do not.
8.67 Recent changes in filling station operations have seen retail functions expand from ancillary to general retailing, often including a small supermarket. Accordingly considerations such as need and the sequential approach are applicable. In this respect the Council has defined ‘ancillary’ as less than 150 m2 net floorspace, as above this figure it is considered that the retail function is a use in its own right, is comparable to ‘stand alone’ retail units being twice the size of a typical cornershop, and will therefore generate shopping trips in its own right. Policy TC16 and its Reasons provide further advice on need and sequential testing. Paragraph 8.42 notes that the test of need for small convenience shopping proposals will take account of gaps in local provision.
8.68 The Policy will be interpreted more strictly where proposals would adversely affect Neighbourhood Parades, where existing shops tend to be much smaller than 150 m 2. Whereas competition within the parade is acceptable, retail development on a site that is not abutting or wholly within it could undermine the parade by functioning as a rival destination and overwhelming existing convenience stores. Other local shops and services that rely on customers attracted to existing convenience shops in the parade then become vulnerable. Major, District and Local Centres are less vulnerable to competition from forecourt retail premises by virtue of their existing size and range of retailing.
   
 
Table TC2: District and Local Centres shopping frontages 1

Name

Street

Numbers

District Centres

1

Blackheath
(Mostly in LB Lewisham)

Blackheath Village

Core: 1 - 13 (odd)
Fringe: 15-19 (odd)

Lee Road

Fringe: 1-17 (odd)

2

East Greenwich

Trafalgar Road

Core: 142 - 232 (even),
155 - 177 & 187 - 213 (odd)
Fringe: 92 - 110 (even),
71 - 153 & 179 - 183 (odd)

Woolwich Road

Fringe: 1 - 39 & 47 - 53 (odd)

3

Greenwich

See Proposals Inset Map

4

Lee Green
(Mostly in LB Lewisham)

Lee Road

Fringe: 121 - 167 (odd)

Eltham Road

Fringe: 1-7 (odd)

5

Plumstead High Street

Plumstead High Street

Core: 100 - 118A & 126 - 156 (even)
97 - 119 (odd)
Fringe: 2 - 32 & 44 - 98C (even)
63A - 79 & 137 - 139 (odd)

Lakedale Road

Core: 2A - 14 & 18 - 30 (even)
13 - 33 (odd)
Fringe: 35 - 57 (odd)

6.

Thamesmead

Twin Tumps Way

Core: western side (Cannon Retail Park)

Joyce Dawson Way

Core: 2 – 4b (even)
1 – 5 (odd)
Fringe: 6b – 20 (even)
7-21 (odd)

Aldi, site between Aldi & Iceland, Safeway superstore

Core
Core

Local Centre Frontages (no core/fringe)

1

Blackheath Hill

Blackheath Hill

Odd: 1 - 13. Even: 2a - 6

Greenwich South Street

Odd: 125 - 143

Lewisham Road

Odd: 1 - 33

2

Charlton Village

The Village

Odd: 1- 45. Even: 2-32

3

Herbert Road

Herbert Road

Odd: 1 - 43. Even: 2a - 74

Plumstead Common

Even: 24, 34 - 44. Odd: 57, 59 - 71

Sandy Hill Road

Even: 150 - 158

4

Mottingham
(mostly in LB Bromley)

Court Road

Odd: 275 - 281. Even: 276 - 288

Mottingham Road

Odd: 77 - 93

5

New Eltham

Footscray Road

Odd: 369 - 401, 405 - 413
Even: 336 - 380, 396-404

Station Approach

All: 1-5

6

Royal Standard

Old Dover Road

Odd: 5 - 15. Even: 2 - 26

Stratheden Parade

All: 1-17

Vanbrugh Park

Odd: 43a. Even: 44 - 48

Westcombe Hill

Even: 156 - 192

7

Well Hall

Odeon Parade

All: 1 - 5

Tudor Parade

All: 1 - 16

Well Hall Parade

All: 12 - 20

Well Hall Road

Odd: 53 - 69. Even: 134 - 170
Notes
1. Additional local centres are likely to be provided as part of Gallions Urban Village (outline planning permission), and as part of the Kidbrooke Development Area (see Policy H4)
 
 
Table TC3: Premises in Neighbourhood Parades

Name

Street

Numbers

1

Abbey Wood

Wilton Road

Odd: 1 - 21

Abbey Wood Road

183, 185, 185a

2

Avery Hill

Avery Hill Road

Odd: 61 - 81. Even: 38-40 (PFS), 42 - 48

3

Bexley Road

Bexley Road

Even: 150 - 198

4

Brewery Road

Brewery Road

Odd: 1 - 15, 15a. Even: 2, 2a, 2b

Waverly Road (corner)

Odd: 23 - 25

5

Charlton Church Lane

Charlton Church Lane

Odd: 25 - 47. Even: 10 - 12, 22, 44 - 74a

6

Charlton Road

Charlton Road

Odd: 211 - 229. Even: 58 - 60, 64 - 78

7

Conway Road

Conway Road

Odd: 11 - 13. Even: 12 - 28

8

Court Road

Court Road

Even: 188 - 200.

9

Eltham Common

Well Hall Road

Odd: 369 - 379. Even: 416, 416a - 436, 436a

10

Eynsham Drive

Eynsham Drive

Even: 164 - 178, 184 (cnr Penmon Road)

11

Fiveways

Southwood Road

Odd: 129 - 139, 143 (cnr Sidcup Road)

Sidcup Road

Odd: 731 - 753. Even: 728(PFS), Crossways PH, 740 - 758.

12

Hill Reach

Hillreach

50, 52, 55, 56, 58 (PO), Woodman PH

13

Holbourne Rd

Holbourne Rd

Odd: 201, 203

Whetstone Road

Odd: 91 - 95, 107, 109

14

Humber Road

Humber Road

Odd: 103 - 115

Station Crescent

Odd: 1 - 7, 11. Even: 2 - 4

15

Kidbrooke

Rochester Way

Even: 122 - 144

16

Kingsman Parade

Kingsman Parade

Even: 2 - 16, Greyhound PH

17

Leslie Smith Square

Leslie Smith Square

All: 1-7

18

McLeod Road

McLeod Road

Even: 70 - 84, 106 - 116

19

Middle Park

Newmarket Green

All: 1 - 17

20

The Mound

The Mound

All: 1 - 13

William Barefoot Road

Even: 72 - 74, 96 - 102, 120 - 122

21

Plumstead Common

Plumstead Common Road

Odd: 117 - 129, 183 - 203
Even: 122a - 158, 160 - 168, 182, 196 - 212

22

Royal Hill

Royal Hill

Even: 18-26,46,52-56, 66, 70, 72, 76, 80,86-94

23

Shooters Hill

Shooters Hill Road

Even: 170 - 202

24

The Slade

The Slade

All: 1 - 10

25

Southend Crescent

Eltham High Street

Odd: 251 - 279

26

Swingate Lane

Swingate Lane

Odd: 141 - 155

27

Teleman Square

Teleman Square

All: 11 - 31

28

Waterdale Road

Wickham Lane

Odd: 239 - 245, 251 - 263

Kings Highway

79 (NW corner), 94 (superstore)

29

Westhorne Avenue

Westhorne Avenue

Even: 546 - 562

30

Westmount Road

Westmount Road

Odd: 95 - 101b. Even: 92 - 132, 142 - 152

31

Wickham Lane

Plumstead High Street

Odd: 293 - 317.

Wickham Lane

Odd: 1 - 13, 25 - 27. Even: 2a (PFS)

32

Woolwich Road

Woolwich Road

Odd: 117 - 133. Even: 8, 22 - 46

 
 
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