Draft Central Area Development Management Policies
Why are these policies required?
The extent of the town centre and its primary shopping area needs to be made clear
within the Local Plan, with policies that state which uses will be permitted in defined
primary and secondary frontages.
These policies are required to provide clear direction for development of the town
centre, as part of the wider ‘Central Area’ strategy.
The first policy relates to the identified town centre boundary, and the second will
relate to identified frontages.
What will the policies say?
Policy DM1 – Mansfield Town Centre
Mansfield Town Centre, as defined on the Policies Map, shall be the focus for all
town centre uses1, with retailing being a particular focus within the primary shopping
area (see Policy DM2 – Primary Shopping Area). In areas outside of the primary
shopping area, the Council will permit proposals which help to diversify the town
centre and increase its attractiveness as a place to visit, socialise, live and work,
subject to public safety, environmental and amenity considerations.
Town centre uses which are proposed in locations which fall outside of a centre
boundary and which are not in accordance with other Local Plan policies will be
determined against Core Policy 2B – Hierarchy for Town Centre Uses.
Policy DM2 – Primary Shopping Area
The primary shopping area in Mansfield town centre is made up of primary and
secondary frontages, as defined on the Policies Map. Retail (Class A1)2 shall be the
predominant use, complimented by a range of other Class A uses which include
financial and professional services (A2), restaurants and cafés (A3), drinking
establishments (A4), and hot food take-aways (A5), as detailed in DM2 (a) and DM2
(b).
Conversion of upper floors of properties within the primary shopping area for office or
residential accommodation will be fully supported, subject to public safety,
environmental and amenity considerations.
DM2 (a) Primary frontages
1
Town Centre uses include: retail development (including warehouse clubs and factory outlet centres); leisure,
entertainment facilities, the more intensive sport and recreation uses (including cinemas, restaurants, drive-through
restaurants, bars and pubs, nightclubs, casinos, health and fitness centres, indoor bowling centres, and bingo halls);
offices; and arts, culture and tourism development (including theatres, museums, galleries and concert halls, hotels
and conference facilities)
2
As defined in the Use Class Order 1987 (as amended).
Planning permission will be granted for Class A uses at ground floor level within
primary frontages provided that the amount of shops (Class A1) does not fall below
75%. To ensure the vitality and viability of the primary frontages and wider town
centre, development proposals within primary frontages should:
1. not result in more than 25% of ground floor units in any defined primary
frontage of the centre being in non-A1 use;
2. not result in the loss of prominent units from A1 use, unless clear advantages
can be demonstrated;
3. maintain an active frontage to the unit, such as a display of visual interest, or
views into the unit;
4. not create a continuous frontage of three or more units in non-A1 uses; and
5. not include drinking establishments or hot-food takeaways (Classes A4 or
A5), unless it can be demonstrated that proposals will have a positive impact
upon both the town centre’s daytime and evening economies, subject to
public safety, environmental and amenity considerations.
DM2 (b) Secondary frontages
Planning permission will be granted for Class A uses at ground floor level within
secondary frontages provided that the amount of shops (Class A1) does not fall
below 50%. To ensure the vitality and viability of the town centre, development
proposals within secondary frontages should:
1. not result in more than 50% of ground floor units in any defined secondary
frontage of the centre being in non-A1 use;
2. not result in the loss of prominent units from A1 use, unless clear advantages
can be demonstrated;
3. maintain an active frontage to the unit, such as a display of visual interest, or
views into the unit; and
4. not create a continuous frontage of four or more units in non-A1 uses.
Development proposals within secondary frontages for other town centre uses that
positively contribute to the broadening of the town centre’s daytime and evening
economies, particularly uses which are family orientated, will be supported as
valuable additions to the vitality and viability of the town centre, subject to public
safety, environmental and amenity considerations.
DM2 (a) relates specifically to the following primary frontages:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
West Gate (odd numbers 1 – 13, even numbers 6 – 46)
Four Seasons Centre (all units)
Stockwell Gate (northern side, up to Four Seasons entrance)
Stockwell Gate North redevelopment (when built) (all units)
Stockwell Gate South redevelopment (when built) (all units)
DM2 (b) relates specifically to the following secondary frontages:
1. West Gate (odd numbers 37 – 71, even numbers 48 – 66)
2. Stockwell Gate (southern side)
3. Regent Street (odd numbers 3 – 21, even numbers 2 – 30 including Regent
House)
4. Leeming Street (odd numbers 1 – 39, even numbers 2 – 42 including
Clumber House)
5. Church Street (odd numbers 1 – 39, even numbers 8 – 36 including the Swan
Hotel)
6. Rosemary Centre (all units)
7. Queen Street (all units)
8. Market Place (numbers 1 – 12, 15 – 24, 25 – 31 inclusive)
9. Market Street (numbers 1 – 4, 10 – 19 inclusive)
10. Clumber Street (all units)
This diagram helps to show the relationship between the Primary Shopping Area,
and the primary and secondary frontages.
What are the implications of using these policies?
 The policies support the delivery of a vibrant mix of retail, leisure and
entertainment facilities including support for evening economy uses.
 The policies shall help Mansfield town centre become a more attractive place to
shop, work, live and visit.
Linked Part 2 policies
 Site allocations for town centre uses