Within secondary retail frontages and main shopping areas (as shown on the Proposals Map), changes of use at ground floor level from use class A1 (Shops) to other uses will not be permitted if this would harm the town centre’s vitality and viability, or where:

1. The combined proportion of class A1 uses and vacant units would fall below 65% (or below 55%, if the proportion of vacant units is above 15%); or
2. The proposed use would generate insufficient morning and afternoon pedestrian activity and lead to the creation of an area of inactivity in the shopping frontage; or
3. The number, frontage lengths and distribution of non-A1 uses would result in an over concentration of such uses that would detract from its established retail character; or
4. The proposed use would not fall within use class A2 (Financial and Professional Services), class A3 (Restaurants and Cafes), class A4 (Drinking Establishments), class A5 (Hot Food Takeaways) or some other use appropriate to the town centre location; or
5. There is a known demand for such properties for class A1 uses; or
6. There is insufficient evidence to show that the property has been marketed effectively for continued class A1 use.