The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This policy promotes the vitality of town centres and their Primary Shopping Areas, the defined retail cores shown on the Policies Map. Within these areas, employment land cannot change to non-employment uses unless shown to be unviable, ground floor retail units are restricted to commercial uses, and housing is only permitted on upper floors. New town centre uses must suit the centre's scale and character. Edge-of-centre and then out-of-centre sites are only considered when no suitable central site exists, with impact evidence required for proposals over 280 square metres.
An unofficial plain English summary. The official wording below is
what counts at examination; check it before you rely on anything here.
The text below is extracted automatically from the official PDF and may
contain artefacts; the PDF is authoritative.
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Policy EC.5
Promoting our Town Centres
In accordance with Policies DS.2 and DS.8, Town Centre boundaries and Primary
Shopping Areas have been identified for the Main Urban Centres and Main Service
Centres across South Warwickshire. These are shown on the Policies Map.
A. Promoting Vitality of our Town Centres
Within the Primary Shopping Areas, proposals for development or change of use of
existing employment land and buildings (Use Classes E(g), B2 and B8) to non-
employment uses will not be permitted, unless demonstrated to be unviable in
accordance with Policy EC.2.
For sites in non-employment use within the Primary Shopping Areas, proposals for
development or change of use for town centre uses (Use Class E) will be permitted
where they:
1. support the vitality and viability of the town centre and non-shopping
proposals would not compromise its shopping function.
2. are of an appropriate scale in relation to the role and function of the town
centre within the identified town centre hierarchy
3. reflect the character and form of the town centre and contribute to the
enhancement of the public realm, including consideration of Green and Blue
Infrastructure-led design solutions.
Within the Primary Shopping Area, the use of ground floor retail units will be restricted
to uses within Use Class E. Residential development will only be permitted on upper
floors.
Where suitable sites are not available in the Primary Shopping Areas, sites on the
edge of the Primary Shopping Areas will be considered and, if no suitable sites are
available in any of the preferred locations, only then will out of centre locations be
considered. Where sites on the edge of Primary Shopping Areas are considered,
preference will be given to accessible sites that are well connected with the Primary
Shopping Areas. Evidence of the impact on the Primary Shopping Area will be
required where the proposal is above 280sqm floorspace.
B. Office Accommodation and the Creative Sector
The conversion of existing space within town centres to provide modern office
floorspace will be supported in principle, including repurposing retail floorspace
where suitable. The development of office space alongside other types of
employment development within town centres and other sustainable locations will