Planning Applications PDF 1 MB - Meetings, agendas and minutes

Town Centre Uses
4.8 The NPPF confirms that offices comprise a town centre use. The planning policy
context for increased town centre uses is enshrined within various planning policy
documents. At the national level, Chapter 2 of the NPPF refers to the need to ensure
the vitality of town centres and states the need to promote competitive town centre
environments.
4.9 The site falls within Shepherds Bush Town Centre, identified in Annex 2 Table A2.1
of the London Plan (2011) as a Metropolitan Town Centre, having been elevated from a
Major Town Centre as set out within the previous iteration of the London Plan. Policy
2.15 of the London Plan (Town Centres) states that town centres should be the main
foci beyond the Central Activities Zone for commercial development and intensification,
and that development proposals should seek to accommodate economic growth
through intensification and selective expansion in appropriate locations.
4.10 The Council's adopted Core Strategy recognises the elevated status of Shepherds
Bush Town Centre, with Strategic Policy C (Hierarchy of Town and Local Centres)
stating that the priority is to strengthen the town centre by encouraging commercial and
leisure based development and uses that will help regenerate town centre functions and
linkages with the WCOA.
4.11 Policy DM C1 of the Development Management DPD states that the Council will
support proposals that aim to enhance the viability and vitality of the town centres and
will seek to ensure a range of accessible shopping and other town centre uses to meet
the needs of local residents, workers and visitors.
4.12 The proposals would provide additional retail office floorspace. It is considered that
this use would contribute to the vitality of the town centre and the future viability of the
location.
Provision of Offices (Class B1)
4.13 The principle of the provision of additional commercial floorspace within the town
centre is strongly encouraged within the adopted development plan. London Plan Policy
4.2 (Offices) is supportive of office development in viable locations with good public
transport, ideally within mixed use developments. At the local level, both the Core
Strategy and the Draft WCOAPF refer to the development of office accommodation.
Core Strategy Strategic Policy B promotes office based development as part of a mixed
use approach within the WCOA, while the Draft WCOAPF notes the importance of
attracting office based occupiers, and further recognises that there is continued demand
for office space within the Town Centre, due to excellent transport links at this location.
4.14 The Development Management Local Plan supports the Core Strategy and Draft
WCOAPF in this regard. Policy DM B1 refers to the need to provide for a range of
employment uses and states that the council will support proposals for new employment
uses that are of an appropriate scale and nature, with the expectation that the majority
of new office space will be delivered within the Town Centre and wider WCOA.
4.15 The Application provides the opportunity to support the provision of additional
office accommodation within the town centre. This proposal will enhance and diversify
the mix of uses within the town centre and will contribute to maintaining its vitality and